Interpreters
Interpreters
A court interpreter is a person who interprets in a court proceeding (e.g., arraignment, motion, pretrial conference, preliminary hearing, deposition, trial) for a witness or party who speaks or understands little or no English or is hearing impaired. Court interpreters must accurately interpret for individuals with a high level of education and an expansive vocabulary, as well as persons with very limited language skills without changing the language register of the speaker. Interpreters are also sometimes responsible for translating written documents, often of a legal nature, from English into the target language and from the target language into English.
Please see Evidence Code Section 754 for information regarding the appointment of a Sign Language Interpreter.
The court provides interpreters for all case types. Parties and Counsel are requested to provide at least five days notice to the court's Interpreter Coordinator of any need for interpreting to ensure these services may be arranged on a timely basis.
The interpreter's role shall be limited to that of interpreting, not offering opinions or suggestions.
Find Information
For civil cases, please complete Judicial Council form INT-300, Request for an Interpreter (Civil) and turn it in to the Interpreter Coordinator in Room 112, or the Civil Clerk’s Office in Room 319, in person or by mail.
For criminal cases, you may ask the clerk at the counter in the Criminal Clerk’s Office in Room 219, or the clerk in the courtroom. If an interpreter is not available at the time of your hearing, your case may be continued by the Court until an interpreter can be assigned.
If you believe you have not been provided with reasonable or professional language access, please complete form CF-061, Interpreter Complaint Form, and turn it in to the Interpreter Coordinator in Room 112, in person or by mail.
To receive payment for interpreting, the Interpreter shall submit a claim form printed on green paper containing the below information with attachments, if any.
- Interpreter name and address
- Certification Status (Certified, Registered, Non-Certified)
- Language(s) Interpreted
- Date of Service; Case Name(s); and Case Number(s)
- Complete information regarding amounts claimed for daily fee; number of miles; travel time; and hourly rate paid for travel time;
- Per Diem meals, if applicable. If meals are requested, the date/time left home; date/time left Redding; and date/time arrived home, must be completed. Meals cannot be reimbursed if times are not stated.
- Lodging costs. A receipt showing a zero balance must be attached in order to be reimbursed for lodging. The interpreter must have prior approval of the Court before charging for lodging.
- The claim form must be signed and dated. No unsigned claims will be processed.
A daily activity log must be submitted with each claim form. The daily log may be printed on white paper. The daily log should state the interpreter’s name, the language interpreted, the assignment date, the location (courtroom), case number, the number of interpretations, case type, event type and any notes related to that case. Each case number should have a separate entry on that day’s activity log. The case type and event type codes and definitions are located at the bottom of the daily activity log.