Interpreting services are provided by the court for defendants and defense witnesses in criminal cases, pursuant to the Court Interpreters Act (Title 28, U.S.C. § 1827). The only types of civil cases where the court may provide interpreting services are cases filed under 28 U.S.C. 2254 and 2255, and specific provisions of the Hague Convention.
If you have any questions regarding the provision of court interpreting services, please contact Rachel Albin, Supervisory Interpreter, at Rachel_Albin@nmd.uscourts.gov.
Contract Interpreters
Useful Information and Resources
- Court Interpreter's Act
- Administrative Office of the United States Courts - Federal Court Interpreters
- Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol: 5 Court Interpreting
- Standards for Performance and Professional Responsibility
- AO Federal Court Interpreter Orientation Manual and Glossary
- New Mexico Translators and Interpreters Association
- National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators
- American Translators Association
- New Mexico Center for Language Access (NMCLA)
- Federal Court Interpreter Examination Certification (FCICE)
Persons with Communication Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply to the federal judiciary. However, pursuant to United States Judicial Conference policy, the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico provides reasonable accommodations to persons with communication disabilities, which encompasses providing sign language interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services to those appearing before the Court who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or have communication disabilities. Some circumstances may require a judge to make a determination that such services are appropriate.
If you are a participant in a court proceeding and you believe you will require assistive listening technology, access to CART (Communications Access Real-time Translations) or an American Sign Language interpreter, the Court's Access Coordinator will work with you and the deciding official on all such requests for accommodation. Please submit the Request for Accommodations for Case Participants with Communication Disabilities form to request an accommodation using the procedures below. If you have been called for jury duty and believe you will require assistive listening technology, access to CART (Communications Access Real-time Translations) or an American Sign Language interpreter, please contact the Jury Department.
The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has designated Daryll Butler as the Court's Access Coordinator, pursuant to The Guide to Judiciary Policy, Vol. 5, § 255.40 (available at https://www.uscourts.gov/administration-policies/judiciary-policies/court-interpreting-guidance). The Access Coordinator is responsible for coordinating sign language interpreters and other appropriate auxiliary aids and services to participants in federal court proceedings who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or have other communication disabilities. Please direct all requests for services or additional information to:
Daryll Butler, Access Coordinator at Court_Reasonable_Accommodations@ao.uscourts.gov.
Note: In order to allow sufficient time for a request to be reviewed, your request should be made at least two (2) weeks prior to your scheduled proceeding.