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2023 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 63. Public Health and Safety
§63-2409. Appointment of interpreter in court action or grand jury proceeding.

Universal Citation: 63 OK Stat § 2409 (2023)
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A. In any case before any state or local court or grand jury, wherein a person who is deaf or hard-of-hearing is a litigant, defendant, spectator as required by subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Pub. L. 101-336, witness, party, prospective juror, or juror, the court shall, upon request, appoint a qualified legal interpreter to interpret the proceedings to the deaf or hard-of-hearing person and interpret testimony or statements and to assist in preparation and communication with counsel within the context of the court proceeding. The court shall not be responsible for providing an interpreter for attorney-client communications which are not immediately ancillary to the court proceeding or for meetings at the private counsel's office. The individual who is deaf or hard-of-hearing shall determine which type of qualified legal interpreter or captioning best fits the needs of the individual.

B. Efforts to obtain the services of a qualified legal interpreter with the highest available level of certification, skill and specialized training in the area of legal interpretation for the deaf or hard-of-hearing will be made prior to accepting services of an interpreter with lesser certification and skill. Once a qualified legal interpreter is appointed, the interpreter shall be afforded the time necessary to make a language assessment in order to ensure effective communication, and to assess whether a deaf interpreter may also be necessary. Based on the language assessment, the interpreter will make recommendations to the court.

C. The provisions of this section shall be construed in conjunction with Sections 1701 through 1710 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 290, § 3. Amended by Laws 1989, c. 194, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 1995, c. 73, § 2, emerg. eff. April 12, 1995; Laws 2005, c. 395, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2023, c. 179, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2023.

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