About Our Services
The Language Access Office is responsible for providing meaningful access to the courts and court-sponsored services for individuals who may not be English proficient, or are deaf or hard of hearing. To meet this need, the office employs the services of highly skilled certified court interpreters.
Idaho is experiencing an increase of linguistic diversity, and each year our courts provide linguistic assistance for thousands of interpreting instances involving more than 40 languages.
To request a court interpreter for a non-English speaker, deaf, or hard of hearing person, please email us at [email protected].
Please submit your request immediately upon being notified of the hearing date and time. This will avoid delays or continuances due to interpreter unavailability.
The Language Access Office provides interpreters free of charge in all criminal and civil in-court proceedings and court-sponsored events, as required by federal and state law.
In court, interpreters are responsible for allowing non-English speaking, deaf, or hard of hearing persons to be legally present and to participate effectively in all judicial proceedings.
This responsibility is set forth in Idaho Code Section 9-205, “In any civil or criminal action in which any witness or party does not understand or speak the English language, or who has a physical disability which prevents him from fully hearing or speaking the English language, then the court shall appoint a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings to and the testimony of such witness or party.”
Interpreters use three modes of interpretation in their work: simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation of written documents. Interpretation is done without adding, editing, or deleting anything from the original statement. Additionally, interpreters must comply with the ethical rules outlined in the Idaho Code of Professional Responsibilities for Interpreters in the Judiciary.
If you would like to become a court interpreter, you must undergo training and testing. The Fourth Judicial District Court partners with the Idaho Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of the Courts to provide this training and testing.
Please visit the Idaho Supreme Court’s Language Access Office website to access information, testing schedule, and registration forms.
Please submit all comments, concerns, or complaints relating to an interpreter in writing to the following address:
Language Access Office
Fourth Judicial District Court
Trial Court Administration
200 W. Front St., Room #4171
Boise, ID 83702
Invoice Form
Interpreter Invoice Form (Word)
Interpreter Invoice Example (PDF-Fillable)