Pennsylvania Code
Title 204 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS
Part VII - ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS
Chapter 221 - COURT INTERPRETERS FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
Subchapter 2 - PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF THE NEED FOR, AND FOR THE PROCUREMENT AND APPOINTMENT
Section 202 - Persons to Notify Court Concerning Need for Interpreters

Universal Citation: 204 PA Code ยง 202

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

(a) The following persons shall give notice to the court when a person has limited English proficiency or is deaf or hard of hearing and requires an interpreter for any judicial proceeding:

(1) For a principal party in interest in a judicial proceeding, either the principal party in interest or his or her attorney, without delay.

(2) For a witness in a judicial proceeding, the party that intends to call the person as a witness as soon as is practicable after learning of the need for an interpreter.

(3) For a crime victim whose presence is anticipated at a judicial proceeding, the affiant, law enforcement officer, or the attorney for the Commonwealth, as soon as is practicable after learning of the need.

(b) Any other person with knowledge that a principal party in interest, witness, or crime victim will require an interpreter may give notice of the need for an interpreter.

(c) Notice to the court pursuant to this section may be made to the presiding judicial officer, the language access coordinator (LAC), or, for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) coordinator, for the judicial district in which the proceeding will be held, or the Appellate Court Prothonotary/District Court Administrator or his or her designee, and should contain the information required in subsection (d)(2).

(d) Form and content of notice.-

(1) Notice form.-The notice of need for an interpreter should be given on the form provided by the Court Administrator, if practicable. If notice by way of said form is not practicable, written or oral notice may be given, provided it contains the information set forth in paragraph (2).

(2) Content of notice.-The notice of need for an interpreter, whether on the form specified in paragraph (1) or otherwise, must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(i) party and case identifying information; and

(ii) for a person with limited English proficiency, the language spoken (specifying any particular dialect or regional version) and the country of origin; or

(iii) for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, the type of sign language or method of communication used, the country of origin (if a foreign sign language is used to communicate), and any other information that will help identify the person's preferred means of communication.

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