Florida Court Interpreter Rule 14.370
RULE 14.370. ASSESSING AND REPORTING IMPEDIMENTS TO
PERFORMANCE
Interpreters shall assess their ability to deliver their services at all times.
When interpreters have any reservation about their ability to satisfy an assignment
competently, they shall immediately convey that reservation to the appropriate
judicial authority.
Committee Notes
If the communications mode or language of the non-English speaking person
cannot be readily interpreted, the interpreter must immediately notify the
appropriate judicial authority.
Interpreters should notify the appropriate judicial authority of any
environmental or physical limitation that impedes or hinders their ability to deliver
interpreting services adequately (for example, the court room is not quiet enough
for the interpreter to hear or be heard by the non-English speaker, more than one
person at a time is speaking, or principals or witnesses of the court are speaking at
a rate of speed that is too rapid for the interpreter to adequately interpret).
Interpreters should notify the presiding officer of the need to take periodic
breaks to maintain mental and physical alertness and prevent interpreter fatigue.
Interpreters should recommend and encourage the use of team interpreting
whenever necessary.
Interpreters are encouraged to make inquiries as to the nature of a case
whenever possible before accepting an assignment. This enables interpreters to
match more closely their professional qualifications, skills, and experience to
potential assignments and more accurately assess their ability to satisfy those
assignments competently. Even competent and experienced interpreters may
encounter cases where routine proceedings suddenly involve technical or
specialized terminology unfamiliar to the interpreter (for example, the unscheduled
testimony of an expert witness). When such instances occur, interpreters should
request a brief recess to familiarize themselves with the subject matter. If
familiarity with the terminology requires extensive research, interpreters must
inform the presiding officer.
Interpreters should refrain from accepting a case if they feel the language
and subject matter of that case are likely to exceed their skills or capacities.
Interpreters should feel no compunction about notifying the presiding officer if
they feel unable to perform competently, due to lack of familiarity with
terminology, preparation, or difficulty in understanding a witness or defendant.
Because of the difficulty in translating sound recordings, the practice of doing so in
court should be discouraged at all times. In certain instances, the presiding officer
will order the interpreter to translate in court an audio recording. In such case, the
interpreter should do it, but should state on the record that he or she cannot certify
the accuracy of the translation.
PERFORMANCE
Interpreters shall assess their ability to deliver their services at all times.
When interpreters have any reservation about their ability to satisfy an assignment
competently, they shall immediately convey that reservation to the appropriate
judicial authority.
Committee Notes
If the communications mode or language of the non-English speaking person
cannot be readily interpreted, the interpreter must immediately notify the
appropriate judicial authority.
Interpreters should notify the appropriate judicial authority of any
environmental or physical limitation that impedes or hinders their ability to deliver
interpreting services adequately (for example, the court room is not quiet enough
for the interpreter to hear or be heard by the non-English speaker, more than one
person at a time is speaking, or principals or witnesses of the court are speaking at
a rate of speed that is too rapid for the interpreter to adequately interpret).
Interpreters should notify the presiding officer of the need to take periodic
breaks to maintain mental and physical alertness and prevent interpreter fatigue.
Interpreters should recommend and encourage the use of team interpreting
whenever necessary.
Interpreters are encouraged to make inquiries as to the nature of a case
whenever possible before accepting an assignment. This enables interpreters to
match more closely their professional qualifications, skills, and experience to
potential assignments and more accurately assess their ability to satisfy those
assignments competently. Even competent and experienced interpreters may
encounter cases where routine proceedings suddenly involve technical or
specialized terminology unfamiliar to the interpreter (for example, the unscheduled
testimony of an expert witness). When such instances occur, interpreters should
request a brief recess to familiarize themselves with the subject matter. If
familiarity with the terminology requires extensive research, interpreters must
inform the presiding officer.
Interpreters should refrain from accepting a case if they feel the language
and subject matter of that case are likely to exceed their skills or capacities.
Interpreters should feel no compunction about notifying the presiding officer if
they feel unable to perform competently, due to lack of familiarity with
terminology, preparation, or difficulty in understanding a witness or defendant.
Because of the difficulty in translating sound recordings, the practice of doing so in
court should be discouraged at all times. In certain instances, the presiding officer
will order the interpreter to translate in court an audio recording. In such case, the
interpreter should do it, but should state on the record that he or she cannot certify
the accuracy of the translation.