Interpreter Services

Yakima County District Court provides interpreter services, free of charge, to limited English proficient (LEP), deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf and blind (D/HH/DB) during court proceedings. If you need the assistance of a court certified or registered (credentialed) interpreter to address matters to prepare adequately for court (i.e. meeting with clients to discuss case, review documents in anticipation of the hearing etc.), you must make those arrangements yourself. The contracted interpreters who are assigned to court proceedings will not be able to remove themselves from court to assist you in reviewing documents or meeting with clients. There are a number of resources available for you to access to acquire an interpreter:

Additionally, the Court is happy to share the contact information with the contract interpreters that we routinely use. If you would like more information about available resources, please contact the interpreter coordinator.

Working with interpreters requires that you have an understanding of their role and function in the court system. Please review this informational document that will give you some background and guidance about court interpreters: Top 10 Suggestions for Attorney's Working with Court Interpreters.

Code of Professional Responsibility for Judiciary Interpreters

Per General Rule (GR) 11, the use of qualified interpreters is authorized in judicial proceedings involving LEP and D/HH/DB individuals.

The purpose of this Code is to establish and maintain high standards of conduct to preserve the integrity and independence of the adjudicative system.

Washington State Interpreter Commission

The Washington State Interpreter Commission serves as a policy making and advisory body to Washington Courts, including the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), concerning court interpreters and language assistance in general. The Commission sets policy for the courts and the Court Interpreter Program, which is responsible for interpreter credentialing, testing, continuing education, training, and discipline. The Commission is also responsible for strategic planning and working with educational institutions and other interpreter program stakeholder groups to develop resources to support court interpreting in Washington.

How To Become a Court Interpreter

Being a credentialed (certified or registered) interpreter shows courts that the interpreters have demonstrated their ability and competency to interpret in a court setting. To become credentialed, the interpreter must follow these primary steps:

Interpreter Services