Interpreter Information

Court interpreters are experts in language interpretation and are assigned only to render linguistically equivalent interpretation from one language into another.  All official court business in California is conducted in English.  When a party or witness in a case has limited English proficiency, that person may need a court interpreter to communicate in court proceedings to understand what is happening.

The court provides court interpreters at no cost to the requesting party or their attorney in all criminal, traffic, juvenile, and other mandated case types. The court will also provide court interpreters at no cost to a party in civil and family law case types, if the court is able to do so and in priority order as set forth in Evidence Code Section 756.

If you need an interpreter in one of these case types, please see “How to Request an Interpreter” below.  Please make such requests at least five (5) days before your hearing. If you wait until the date of your hearing to request an interpreter in one of those case types, you may have to wait until an interpreter can be contacted and your hearing would be continued to a future date.

Who Is Eligible for a Court Interpreter?

• Court Interpreters are provided at no cost when appointed by the court.
• Court Interpreters are provided to a party or witness during hearings in Criminal, Mental Health, Juvenile matters, and other mandated case types. A court appointed interpreter can only be used in the court proceeding, parties and/or their attorney cannot use the interpreter outside the court proceeding.
• Court Interpreters may be provided in Civil or Family Law matters, when one is available. If a court-appointed interpreter is not available, the parties may arrange for their own (note: the court will not allow children to interpret proceedings).
• Court Interpreters are not guaranteed when interacting with the court’s Self-Help Center, Family Court Services, or Clerk’s Office. When an in-person interpreter is not available, court staff may use a telephone-based interpretation service.

How to Request an Interpreter?

• You or your attorney may ask for an interpreter:
• At the public service window when filing your case, an INT-300 Form will be provided to you to complete.
• If the form is submitted at the time of your hearing, your matter will be continued in order for the Court to obtain an interpreter.
• To submit the form, go to the courthouse and file the form at the public service window.
• You can also mail the form to: Attention: Calendar Coordinator 411 4^th Street, Yreka, CA 96097. You must ask for an interpreter each time you want an interpreter in court with you and at least five (5) days before your hearing.
• You can email the form to Interpreter@siskiyou.courts.ca.gov at least five (5) days before the hearing.  The form is required to be OCR (optical character recognition) capable. 

How to Cancel a Request for an Interpreter?

If an interpreter has been requested and is no longer needed, you must do the following:

• Notify the Calendar Coordinator at least 48 hours before the court hearing via telephone at (530) 842-0411 or via email at: Interpreter@siskiyou.courts.ca.gov  
• Failure to notify the court of a cancellation may result in an order to pay cancellation fees by the party or their attorney, pursuant to Local Rule 2.13.

Other Important Information

• Court Interpreters will interpret everything said without adding or changing anything.
• Court Interpreters cannot give you legal advice.
• Court Interpreters cannot talk privately with you, your family, or your friends.

• Court Interpreters who are no longer assisting in a courtroom must report to the Calendar Coordinator. Attorneys and parties should not tell the interpreters to leave the courtroom or ask the interpreters to help with other cases or conversations.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The court also provides American Sign Language interpreters and other accommodations for parties, witnesses, and jurors that are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or that have another disability. 

Language Access Services Complaint Forms

If you would like to file a complaint in regard to the Judicial Council’s language access services or a specific California court interpreter, information can be located here, Judicial Council Language Access Services Complaint.

If your complaint is regarding the court’s failure to provide interpreter services, then use this form.  For Spanish, use this form.

If you are interested in becoming a California Court Interpreter, you can find more information on the California Courts website.