Title: In re: Amendments to the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Spoken Language Court Interpreters
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC15-1580
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: October 2, 2015

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC15-1580 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES FOR 
CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE 
COURT INTERPRETERS. 
 
[October 1, 2015] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed amendments to 
the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of Spoken Language Court 
Interpreters (Interpreter Rules).  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. 
Const. 
In March 2014, this Court adopted amendments to the Interpreter Rules.  See 
In re Amends. to Fla. Rules for Certif. & Regul. of Court Interpreters, 136 So. 3d 
584 (Fla. 2014).  Those amendments established and set out the standards for the 
three “designations” of court interpreters: certified, language skilled, and 
provisionally approved.  Id. at 585-86.  The amendments also subjected 
undesignated interpreters working in the courts by court appointment on a regular 
basis to the provisions of the court interpreters’ Code of Professional Conduct and, 
2 
 
in certain circumstances, to the disciplinary procedures for designated court 
interpreters.  Id. at 587. 
 
Thereafter, in March 2015, this Court again adopted amendments to the 
Interpreter Rules.  See In re Amends. to Fla. Rules for Certif. & Regul. of Spoken 
Language Court Interpreters, 159 So. 3d 804 (Fla. 2015).  Those amendments 
contained a more inclusive definition of the phrase “court interpreter” and an 
expansive definition for the phrase “court-related proceeding.”  Id. at 804.  The 
amendments further required that all court interpreters, as newly defined, register 
with the Office of the State Courts Administrator and take the necessary steps 
toward obtaining a designation.  Id. at 804-05.   
 
The Court Interpreter Certification Board (Board) has now submitted a 
petition proposing additional amendments to the Interpreter Rules.  The Board 
proposes amending the following rules: 14.100 (Definitions); 14.110 (Court 
Interpreter Certification Board); 14.200 (Registration); 14.205 (Certified Court 
Interpreter Designation); 14.210 (Language Skilled Designation); 14.215 
(Provisionally Approved Designation); 14.220 (Waiver of Examination 
Requirement); 14.225 (Issuance of Certificates); 14.230 (Renewal of Certificates); 
14.240 (Maintenance of Official Designation); 14.310 (Accuracy and 
Completeness); 14.320 (Representation of Qualifications); 14.370 (Assessing and 
Reporting Impediments to Performance); 14.405 (Suspension or Revocation); 
3 
 
14.410 (Disciplinary Procedures); and 14.450 (Reinstatement).  We hereby adopt 
the amendments as proposed by the Board.1  
The amendments are largely technical and are aimed at clarifying existing 
provisions in the Interpreter Rules.  Notably, the amendments further clarify the 
registration process and the process by which individuals obtain a designation.  
The amendments clarify these processes by relocating a number of existing 
provisions and restructuring several of the Interpreter Rules.   
Accordingly, we amend the Florida Rules for Certification and Regulation of 
Spoken Language Court Interpreters as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  
New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-
through type.  The amendments shall become effective immediately upon the 
release of this opinion.  Because the amendments were not published for comment 
                                          
 
 
1.  According to the petition, these amendments relate to amendments to the 
Florida Rules of Judicial Administration jointly proposed by the Board and the 
Rules of Judicial Administration Committee in In re Amends. to the Fla. Rules of 
Judicial Admin., Case No. SC15-1594 (Fla. Oct. 1, 2015).  We expedited our 
consideration of the amendments in Case No. SC15-1594 because those 
amendments permit a court to use a non-registered interpreter in exceptional 
circumstances.  Because the amendments in this case relate to the amendments in 
Case No. SC15-1594, we have likewise expedited our consideration of the 
amendments in this case.   
4 
 
prior to their adoption, interested persons shall have sixty days from the date of this 
opinion in which to file comments with the Court.2 
It is so ordered.  
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.  
 
Original Proceeding – Court Interpreter Certification Board Committee 
 
Judge Jon Kevin Abdoney, Chair, Court Interpreter Certification Board, Tenth 
Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Florida, and James Calvin Goodlett, Staff Liaison, Office 
of the State Courts Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
                                          
 
2.  All comments must be filed with the Court on or before November 30, 
2015, with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has been served on the 
Board chair, Honorable Kevin Abdoney, P.O. Box 9000, Drawer J-165, Bartow, 
Florida 33831-9000, kabdoney@jud10.flcourts.org, and on the Staff Liaison to the 
Board, James Calvin Goodlett, 500 S. Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, 
goodlettc@flcourts.org, as well as a separate request for oral argument if the 
person filing the comment wishes to participate in oral argument, which may be 
scheduled in this case.  The Board chair has until December 21, 2015, to file a 
response to any comments filed with the Court.  If filed by an attorney in good 
standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be electronically filed via the E-
Filing Portal in accordance with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of 
Florida via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 
(Feb. 18, 2013).  If filed by a non-lawyer or a lawyer not licensed to practice in 
Florida, the comment must be electronically filed via e-mail in accordance with In 
re Mandatory Submission of Electronic Copies of Documents, Fla. Admin. Order 
No. AOSC04-84 (Sept. 13, 2004).  Electronically filed documents must be 
submitted in Microsoft Word 97 or higher.  Any person unable to submit a 
comment electronically must mail or hand-deliver the originally signed comment 
to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the Clerk, 500 South Duval Street, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional copies are required or will be 
accepted.   
5 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
6 
 
Appendix 
 
PART I. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
RULE 14.100. 
DEFINITIONS 
The following terms have the meanings shown as used in these rules: 
(a) 
Court Interpreter.  Any person providing spoken language court 
interpreting services during a court or court-related proceeding, except persons 
performing such services without remuneration on behalf of indigent persons 
demonstrating an inability to pay in circumstances not requiring appointment of a 
court interpreter. 
(b) 
Certified Court Interpreter.  AnA designation reserved for 
interpreters who hashave completed all requirements for certification in accordance 
with these rules and holds a valid certificate issued by the Office of the State 
Courts Administrator. 
(c)-(g)  [NO CHANGE] 
(h) 
Court-Related Proceeding.  Any event, including, but not limited to, 
a deposition, mediation, arbitration, or examination, which occurs or could be 
made to occur as a result of a court order, subpoena, or general law, and for which 
the primary purpose is the communication or exchange of information related to a 
claim or defense in or the settlement of a pending or impending court case.  
However, a law enforcement investigation which does not yet involve the 
participation of the prosecuting authority shall not be considered a court-related 
proceeding. 
(i) 
Limited-English-Proficient Person.  A person who is unable to 
communicate effectively in English because the individual’s primary language is 
not English and he or she has not developed fluency in the English language.  A 
person with limited English proficiency may have difficulty speaking, reading, 
writing, or understanding English. 
(ij) 
Board.  The Court Interpreter Certification Board. 
(jk) Compliance Period.  The two-year period beginning upon official 
designation as a certified, language skilled, or provisionally approved issuance of a 
letter confirming registration or renewal of registration of a court interpreter. 
7 
 
(kl) 
State-Certifying Examination.  A full or abbreviated board-
approved oral performance examination designed to objectively measure whether a 
candidate possesses the minimum levels of language knowledge and fluency and 
interpreting skills required to perform competently during court proceedings. 
(lm) Written Examination.  An initial qualifying or screening 
examination designed to measure a candidate’s literacy in English, familiarity 
with, and usage of, court-related terms, and/or knowledge of matters regarding 
interpreter ethics and related professional conduct. 
(mn) Full Oral Performance Examination.  An oral examination which 
measures language knowledge and fluency in both English and non-English 
languages, as well as the ability to successfully render meaning in target and 
source languages in simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation, and 
sight translation of documents. 
(no) Abbreviated Oral Performance Examination.  An oral examination 
assessing functional proficiency to competently interpret simultaneously in court 
from English to a non-English language, and prerequisite to which a candidate 
must satisfy board-approved oral proficiency interviews in both English and non-
English languages. 
(op) Oral Proficiency Interview.  A standardized language proficiency 
interview assessing functional speaking ability in both English and non-English 
languages. 
(pq) Modes of Court Interpretation.  Simultaneous interpretation, 
consecutive interpretation, and sight translation of documents in a court setting. 
(qr) Transcription.  The process of preserving audio or videotaped sound 
files in written form, duplicating the original, together with its translation into the 
target language, and, when used for evidentiary purposes, produced in dual-
language format with the original and translation appearing side-by-side.  
(rs) 
Translation.  Converting a written text from one language into 
written text in another language. 
 
RULE 14.110. 
COURT INTERPRETER CERTIFICATION BOARD 
(a) 
Board Composition.  The Court Interpreter Certification Board is 
created to supervise a process encouraging certification of court interpreters by 
8 
 
which interpretersqualified persons may become certified or otherwise duly 
qualifiedregistered and officially designated, and in accordance with which the 
conduct of all court-appointed persons engaged in spoken language interpreting in 
the courts and court-related proceedings shall be governed. The board shall be 
under the supervisory authority of the Supreme Court of Florida. It shall be 
composed of ten persons, appointed by the chief justice, as follows: 
(1) 
two county court judges; 
(2) 
three circuit court judges; 
(3) 
three trial court administrators; 
(4) 
one federally certified court interpreter; and 
(5) 
one state certified court interpreter. 
 (b)-(f)  [NO CHANGE]  
(g) 
Fees.  The board shall have the authority to recommend to the 
supreme court such fees as the board may deem necessary to permit it to carry out 
its duties, including, but not limited to, orientation fees, examination fees, 
application fees, renewal fees, and late fees. All sSuch fees shall be made payable 
to the State of Florida and shall be non-refundable. 
(h)-(i)  [NO CHANGE] 
 
PART II. 
INTERPRETER REGISTRATION AND DESIGNATIONS 
RULE 14.200. 
REGISTRATION 
(a) 
[NO CHANGE] 
(b) 
General Prerequisites. Unless otherwise provided, all applicants 
completing prerequisites for registration must: 
(1)-(6) [NO CHANGE] 
(7) 
agree to diligently pursue designation as a certified, language 
skilled, or provisionally approved interpreter and, within the first year of any two-
year registration or applicable renewal period, submit to: 
9 
 
(i) 
at least 1 full oral performance examination approved by 
the board, or, in the event a full oral performance examination is unavailable, 
submit to a board-approved abbreviated oral examination and demonstrate 
functional speaking ability in English and a non-English language through oral 
proficiency interviews as a prerequisite to taking the abbreviated examination; 
(ii) 
at least 1 approved oral proficiency interview in English 
and a non-English language for which there is no state-certifying examination as 
an assessment of functional speaking ability; or 
(iii) 
at least 1 equivalent state-certifying examination in 
another state that is in accordance with board-approved requisites; and 
(8) 
[NO CHANGE] 
(c) 
Renewal and Maintenance of Registration.  Registration under this 
rule shall be valid for a period of 2 years.  Before any person’s registration may be 
renewed, he or she must have completed 16 credits of continuing education 
through a board-approved program and comply again with subdivisions (b)(3) 
through (b)(7) of this rule.  The board shall provide written notice of expiring 
registrations at least 90 days before expiration.  Applications for renewal of 
registration must be accompanied by a fee in an amount set by the supreme court.: 
(1) 
complete 16 credits of continuing education through a board-
approved program and submit an application for continuing education credit on a 
reporting form furnished by the board;  
(2) 
complete 20 law-related professional court interpreting 
assignments, or a lesser number of assignments totaling no fewer than 40 hours;  
(3) 
pay any applicable renewal fee in an amount set by the supreme 
court; and 
(4) 
if not officially designated as certified, language skilled or 
provisionally approved, comply again with subdivisions (b)(4), (b)(5), and (b)(7) 
of this rule. 
Officially designated state-level court interpreters who are employed by the 
courts in court interpreting positions may, rather than reporting discrete law-related 
professional assignments, provide proof of court employment and an affidavit 
averring compliance with this requirement.  Court interpreters unable to complete 
the required professional court interpreting assignments because of a limited need 
10 
 
for interpreting services in their language or in other exceptional circumstances 
may be eligible, upon written request and board approval, for an extension of time 
or exemption.  A language skilled or provisionally approved interpreter who is 
granted an extension must, in lieu of a biennial renewal fee and as a condition of 
maintaining registration and any official state-level designation, pay a fee in an 
amount proportionate to the time of extension. 
(d) 
Letters Confirming Registration and Renewal.  Letters confirming 
registration and renewal of registration shall be issued to persons satisfying 
requirements under this rule.  Any official state-level designation held by the 
registered interpreter shall be noted in such letters. 
(e) 
Approved Continuing Education.  The board shall keep and 
maintain a list of approved continuing education programs.  Approval of an 
educational program or activity not listed shall be at the board’s discretion and 
subject to approval on a case-by-case basis. 
(f) 
Notification.  The board shall notify all registered court interpreters in 
writing of the expiration of their registration and any corresponding official state-
level designation at least 90 days before such date.  Notice shall be given by 
regular United States mail or via e-mail, directed to the last postal or e-mail 
address on file with the board. 
(g) 
Administrative Suspension.  Registration and any corresponding 
official state-level designation shall be suspended automatically upon failure to 
comply with requirements under rule 14.200(c), but may be reinstated upon 
application to the board, accompanied by payment and made within 60 days of the 
date of suspension.  Upon expiration of the 60-day grace period, registration and 
any official state-level designation shall be revoked and any request for 
reinstatement must be made in accordance with rule 14.450. 
(dh) Administrative Revocation.  Registration shall be automatically 
revoked for any person who fails to submit to at least one of the foregoing 
examinations within the first year of any two-year registration period, except for 
registrants who have previously achieved the designation of certified, language 
skilled, or provisionally approved during a prior two-year registration periodcourt 
interpreter.  A court interpreter whose registration is revoked under this 
subdivision shall not be eligible for registration for a period of 1 year following 
revocation and must thereafter comply with all requirements of subdivision (b) of 
this rule. 
11 
 
(ei) 
Threshold Performance.  Registration may be revoked at the 
discretion of the board for any person who fails to attain minimum scores, in 
accordance with standards prescribed by the board and published in board 
operating procedures, on the sight translation, simultaneous interpretation, and 
consecutive interpretation components during a single test administration as 
specified under subdivision (b)(7)(i) or (b)(7)(iii), or who fails to demonstrate 
satisfactory functional speaking ability as prescribed by the board during an oral 
proficiency interview under subdivision (b)(7)(ii). 
(fj) 
Persons Holding Valid Designation Before October 1, 2015.  A 
person holding the designation of certified, language skilled, or provisionally 
approved interpreter before October 1, 2015 is deemed to be registered during the 
time he or she holds such designationfor the remainder of the two-year compliance 
period then applicable to such person.  Renewal of the designation of certified, 
language skilled, or provisionally approved interpreter shall be governed by rule 
14.230.  Such person’s registration shall expire on the date which is two years 
following official designation or the last renewal of such designation.  Such person 
must thereafter renew registration under subdivision (c) of this rule.  
(g) 
Loss of Designation.  Any certified, language skilled, or provisionally 
approved court interpreter whose designation expires, is suspended, or revoked 
shall be deemed unregistered on the 181st day following loss of designation, unless 
the board, in its discretion, sets a shorter period of time.  Any person failing to 
renew registration within 181 days after loss of designation, or such lesser number 
of days as may be set by the board, shall cease providing interpreter services in all 
court and court-related proceedings. 
 
RULE 14.205. 
CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETER DESIGNATION 
(a) 
[NO CHANGE] 
(b) 
Requirements.  An applicant seeking designation as a certified court 
interpreter must: 
(1) 
register under provisions of rule 14.200, complying with 
subdivisions 14.200(a), (b)(1) through (b)(6), and (b)(8);  
(2) 
pass a board-approved full oral performance examination upon 
attaining a minimum score in accordance with standards prescribed by the board 
and published in board operating procedures, unless qualifying for a waiver of the 
examination requirement under rule 14.220; and  
12 
 
(3) 
absent availability of a full oral performance examination, pass 
a board-approved abbreviated oral examination, attaining a minimum score in 
accordance with standards prescribed by the board and published in board 
operating procedures, and demonstrate functional speaking ability in English and a 
non-English language as prescribed by the board through oral proficiency 
interviews as a prerequisite to taking the abbreviated examination and qualifying 
for certification; and. 
(4) 
complete the process leading to designation within 2 years 
following the submission of an application for registration, unless extended by the 
board in exceptional circumstances. 
(c) 
Court-Employed Interpreters.  Applicants who are selected as 
employee interpreters in the state courts system for a language for which a state-
certifying examination is available, but who are not certified at the time of court 
employment, shall become certified within 1 year of being employed in a court 
interpreting position. The one-year requirement may be modified by the board on a 
case-by-case basis, if necessary, only in exceptional circumstances. 
 
RULE 14.210. 
LANGUAGE SKILLED DESIGNATION 
(a) 
Preferred Appointment, Retention, and Staffing.  The language 
skilled designation represents the highest qualified state-level interpreter 
designation next beneath full certificationfor languages for which there is currently 
no state-certifying examination and shall be the preferred designation over non-
designated interpreters in the selection, appointment, staffing, or private retention 
of court interpreters in the area of the language skilled individual’s linguistic 
expertise. 
(b) 
Requirements.  An applicant seeking designation as a language 
skilled court interpreter in a spoken language for which there is no state-certifying 
examination must:  
(1) 
register under provisions of rule 14.200, complying with 
subdivisions 14.200(a), (b)(1) through (b)(6), and (b)(8); and 
(2) 
pass an approved oral proficiency interview in English and a 
non-English language, attaining a minimum score in accordance with standards 
prescribed by the board and published in board operating procedures, as an 
assessment of functional speaking ability; and. 
13 
 
(3) 
complete the process leading to designation within 2 years 
following submission of an application for registration, unless extended by the 
board in exceptional circumstances. 
(c) 
Conditional Designation. In the event a language-specific state-
certifying examination becomes available, a language skilled interpreter shall be 
required to take and pass the certifying examination within 2 years of notice of its 
availability. Failure to become certified within this two-year period shall result in 
loss of the language skilled designation, unless the board approves an extension in 
exceptional circumstances. 
 
RULE 14.215. 
PROVISIONALLY APPROVED DESIGNATION 
(a) 
Preferred Appointment, Retention, and Staffing.  The 
provisionally approved court interpreter designation represents the highest 
qualified state-level interpreter designation next below the certified and language 
skilled designations and shall be the preferred designation in the selection, 
appointment, staffing, or private retention of court interpreters when certified or 
language skilled interpreters are unavailable. 
(ab) Requirements.  An individual not yet certified in a spoken language 
for which a state-certifying examination is available, but who has taken the oral 
performance exam, may be designated as provisionally approved upon: 
(1) 
registering under provisions of rule 14.200, complying with 
subdivisions 14.200(a), (b)(1) through (b)(6), and (b)(8); and 
(2) 
attaining minimum scores on each section of the oral 
examination in accordance with standards prescribed by the board and published in 
board operating procedures; and. 
(3) 
completing the process leading to designation within 2 years 
following submission of an application for registration, unless extended by the 
board in exceptional circumstances. 
(bc) Loss of Designation.  Following designation as a provisionally 
approved interpreter, if the interpreter fails to become certified within 2 years, or 
within 1 year if the individual is employed in a court interpreting position, the 
interpreter will forfeit the designation unless the board approves an extension in 
exceptional circumstances. 
14 
 
 
RULE 14.220. 
WAIVER OF EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT 
(a) 
Federal Certification.  Upon presentation of proof satisfactory to the 
board, the oral performance examination requirement shall be waived for anyone 
holding a federal courts certificate which is issued by the Administrative Office of 
the United States Courts and whose name appears on the registry of federally 
certified interpreters.  No other component of certification or registration is waived 
by this rule. 
(b) 
[NO CHANGE] 
 
RULE 14.225. 
ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES 
Upon satisfactory completion of the specified requirements, the board shall 
issue a certificate for each official designation which shall include a designation 
number, and date of issue, and date of expiration.  A certificate issued under this 
rule shall expire on the same date that the officially designated interpreter’s 
registration expires.  Letters confirming registration shall be issued to persons 
satisfyingRegistrations shall be renewed, as applicable, upon satisfaction of 
renewal requirements under rule 14.200(c).  Certificates for certified and language 
skilled interpreters shall be reissued upon renewal of registration. 
 
RULE 14.230. 
RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES 
(a) 
Renewal.  Once issued, the certificate for a certified court interpreter 
shall remain renewable unless suspended or revoked by the board.  The language 
skilled designation may also be renewed conditioned upon continued unavailability 
of a state-certifying examination in the language for which this designation has 
been granted.  Absent an extension of time granted only in exceptional 
circumstances, failure to become certified within 2 years, or 1 year for anyone 
employed in a court interpreting position, will result in forfeiture of a provisionally 
approved designation.  Renewal of registration shall be undertaken as provided 
under rule 14.200(c). 
(b) 
Biennial Renewal Fee.  Each certified and language skilled court 
interpreter shall pay a biennial renewal fee in an amount set by the supreme court.  
A certificate shall be suspended automatically upon non-payment, but shall be 
reinstated upon application to the board, accompanied by payment and made 
within 60 days of the date of suspension.  Upon expiration of the 60-day grace 
15 
 
period, any request for reinstatement must be made in accordance with rule 14.450. 
(c) 
Notification.  The board shall notify all certified, language skilled, 
and provisionally approved court interpreters in writing of the expiration date of 
their certificates at least 90 days before such date.  Notice shall be given by regular 
United States mail, directed to the last mailing address on file with the board. 
(d) 
Continued Status in Exceptional Circumstances.  If the board 
determines exceptional circumstances warrant an extension of time within which a 
language skilled or provisionally approved interpreter may obtain certification, the 
interpreter will not forfeit the respective designation during the period of 
extension.  A language skilled or provisionally approved interpreter who is granted 
an extension must, in lieu of a biennial renewal fee and as a condition of 
maintaining formal designation, pay a fee in an amount proportionate to the time of 
extension. 
 
RULE 14.240. 
MAINTENANCE OF OFFICIAL DESIGNATION 
(a) 
Assignments.  Each certified, language skilled, and provisionally 
approved court interpreter shall complete 20 law-related professional interpreting 
assignments, or a lesser number of assignments totaling no fewer than 40 hours, 
every two-year compliance period. Interpreters unable to complete this 
requirement because of a limited need for interpreting services in their language 
may be eligible, upon written request and board approval, for an extension of time 
or exemption.  Officially designated state-level court interpreters who are 
employed by the courts in court interpreting positions may, in lieu of reporting 
discrete law-related professional assignments, provide proof of court employment 
and an affidavit averring compliance with this requirement. 
(b) 
Continuing Education.  Each certified, language skilled, and 
provisionally approved court interpreter shall earn 16 continuing education credits 
every two-year compliance period.  Application for approval of continuing 
education credit shall be made in writing on a continuing education reporting form 
furnished by the board.  Certified and language skilled interpreters renewing 
official designation shall return completed forms to the board with submission of 
renewal fees.  Provisionally approved interpreters shall submit continuing 
education reporting forms to the board with applications for certification. 
(c) 
Approved Programs.  The board shall keep and maintain a list of 
approved continuing education programs.  Approval of an educational program or 
16 
 
activity not listed shall be at the board’s discretion and subject to approval on a 
case-by-case basis. 
 
PART III. CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 
 
RULE 14.310. 
ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS 
[NO CHANGE] 
Committee Notes 
The interpreter has a twofold duty: (1) to ensure that the proceedings in 
English reflect precisely what was said by a non-English speaking person, and (2) 
to place the non-English speaking person on an equal footing with those who 
understand English. This creates an obligation to conserve every element of 
information contained in a source language communication when it is rendered in 
the target language. 
Therefore, interpreters are obligated to apply their best skills and judgment 
to preserve faithfully the meaning of what is said in court, including the style or 
register of speech. Verbatim, “word for word” or literal oral interpretations are not 
appropriate when they distort the meaning of the source language, but every 
spoken statement, even if it appears nonresponsive, obscene, rambling, or 
incoherent should be interpreted. This includes apparent misstatements and 
ambiguities. 
Interpreters should never interject their own words, phrases, or expressions. 
If the need arises to explain an interpreting problem (for example, a term or phrase 
with no direct equivalent in the target language or a misunderstanding that only the 
interpreter can clarify), the interpreter should ask the court’s permission to provide 
an explanation. Interpreters should convey the emotional emphasis of the speaker 
without reenacting or mimicking the speaker’s emotions, or dramatic gestures. 
Sign language interpreters, however, must employ all of the visual cues that the 
language they are interpreting for requires, including facial expressions, body 
language, and hand gestures. Sign language interpreters, therefore, should ensure 
that court participants do not confuse these essential elements of the interpreted 
language with inappropriate interpreter conduct. 
The obligation to preserve accuracy includes the interpreter’s duty to correct 
any error of interpretation discovered by the interpreter during the proceeding. 
Interpreters should demonstrate their professionalism by objectively analyzing any 
17 
 
challenge to their performance. 
 
RULE 14.320. 
REPRESENTATION OF QUALIFICATIONS 
Interpreters shall accurately and completely represent their registrations, 
certifications official state-level interpreter designations, other certifications, 
training, and pertinent experience. 
Committee Notes 
[NO CHANGE] 
 
RULE 14.370. 
ASSESSING AND REPORTING IMPEDIMENTS TO 
PERFORMANCE 
[NO CHANGE] 
Committee Notes 
If the communications mode or language of the non-English speaking person 
cannot be readily interpreted, the interpreter must immediately notify the 
appropriate judicial authority. 
Interpreters should notify the appropriate judicial authority of any 
environmental or physical limitation that impedes or hinders their ability to deliver 
interpreting services adequately (for example, the court room is not quiet enough 
for the interpreter to hear or be heard by the non-English speaker, more than one 
person at a time is speaking, or principals or witnesses of the court are speaking at 
a rate of speed that is too rapid for the interpreter to adequately interpret). Sign 
language interpreters must ensure that they can both see and convey the full range 
of visual language elements that are necessary for communication, including facial 
expressions and body movement, as well as hand gestures. 
Interpreters should notify the presiding officer of the need to take periodic 
breaks to maintain mental and physical alertness and prevent interpreter fatigue.  
Interpreters should recommend and encourage the use of team interpreting 
whenever necessary. 
Interpreters are encouraged to make inquiries as to the nature of a case 
whenever possible before accepting an assignment. This enables interpreters to 
match more closely their professional qualifications, skills, and experience to 
potential assignments and more accurately assess their ability to satisfy those 
18 
 
assignments competently. Even competent and experienced interpreters may 
encounter cases where routine proceedings suddenly involve technical or 
specialized terminology unfamiliar to the interpreter (for example, the unscheduled 
testimony of an expert witness). When such instances occur, interpreters should 
request a brief recess to familiarize themselves with the subject matter. If 
familiarity with the terminology requires extensive research, interpreters must 
inform the presiding officer. 
Interpreters should refrain from accepting a case if they feel the language 
and subject matter of that case are likely to exceed their skills or capacities. 
Interpreters should feel no compunction about notifying the presiding officer if 
they feel unable to perform competently, due to lack of familiarity with 
terminology, preparation, or difficulty in understanding a witness or defendant. 
Because of the difficulty in translating sound recordings, the practice of doing so in 
court should be discouraged at all times. In certain instances, the presiding officer 
will order the interpreter to translate in court an audio recording. In such case, the 
interpreter should do it, but should state on the record that he or she cannot certify 
the accuracy of the translation. 
 
PART IV. DISCIPLINE 
 
RULE 14.405. 
SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION 
(a) 
[NO CHANGE] 
(b) 
Cause.  Any of the following may constitute cause: 
(1)-(6) [NO CHANGE] 
(7) 
nonpayment of renewal or late fees. 
 
RULE 14.410. 
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 
(a) 
Initiation. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by a standard 
form asserting a violation of these rules. The complaint shall be in writing under 
oath and filed with the Office of the State Courts Administrator. The board may 
initiate disciplinary proceedings on its own motion. The board shall be divided into 
an investigative committee and a hearing panel, as established by rules of the 
boardin accordance with guidelines published in board operating procedures 
consistent with these rules. 
19 
 
(b)-(i)  [NO CHANGE] 
 
RULE 14.450. 
REINSTATEMENT 
A court interpreter whose registration or official state-level designation has 
been suspended or revoked may, at any time, apply in writing for reinstatement. 
Such request shall explain why the applicant believes that he or she should be 
reinstated, and shall be accompanied by a renewal fee in an amount set by the 
board.  Whether to grant or to deny such a request shall rest in the sole and 
absolute discretion of the boardSuch a request shall be granted when the board 
determines, based upon relevant facts and circumstances, good cause exists 
warranting reinstatement.  The board may impose such reasonable conditions upon 
reinstatement as it deems appropriate.