1.01
The purpose of these Standards and Procedures of the Office of Language Access (Standards and Procedures) is to provide court interpreters, judges, attorneys, and other court personnel with information about providing quality court interpreter services in the Massachusetts Trial Court and guidelines to follow when requesting or using court interpreters through the Office of Language Access (OLA) (formerly called the Office of Court Interpreter Services) when providing interpretation services.
1.02
The Massachusetts Trial Court is committed to providing equal access to justice for all who use the Commonwealth’s courts. Within the framework of the Massachusetts Trial Court Language Access Plan and through these Standards and Procedures, the Trial Court provides meaningful language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals in all court proceedings and court-managed or court-related programs, as well as ensures access to communication with court-appointed or court-supervised personnel.
1.03
Recognizing the importance that court interpreters have in ensuring access to equal justice, the Office of Court Management, through OLA, is committed to fostering competency, professionalism, and ethical practice of all interpreters through the highest standards of screening, education, training, mentoring and evaluation.
1.04
These Standards and Procedures apply to all court interpreters, including language, American Sign Language (ASL), and DHH interpreters who provide court interpreter services to the Trial Court.
1.05
These Standards and Procedures are promulgated pursuant to G.L. c. 221C, § 7(d).
1.06
The rights of individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are covered under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), G.L. c. 6, §§ 191-197, G.L. c. 221, § 92A, and Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) serves as the principal agency in the Commonwealth on behalf of people of all ages who are deaf and hard of hearing. MCDHH is mandated to maintain and coordinate a statewide interpreter referral service and provide or ensure provision of court interpreter services and technology services including telecommunication and assistive listening devices for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals. Requests for American Sign Language (ASL) or DHH court interpreters follow the same procedures OLA utilizes for court interpreters as set forth in Section 8 of these Standards and Procedures.