Standards of Professional Conduct for Interpreters Providing Services in Judicial Proceedings

Effective January 1, 2005 
Revised July 15, 2015

I. Introduction 

Many persons who come before the courts may be restricted in their ability to fully participate in the proceedings due to limited English proficiency, a speech impairment, hearing loss and/or deafness. It is essential that any resulting communication barrier be removed, as far as possible, so that these persons are placed in the same positions as similarly situated persons for whom there is no such barrier.

Interpreters are highly skilled professionals who fulfill an essential role in the administration of justice. As officers of the court, interpreters help assure that such persons may enjoy equal access to justice and that court proceedings and court support services function efficiently and effectively. Interpreters may be privately retained or paid through public funds.

II. General Provisions

Section 1: Applicability

These standards shall guide and be binding upon all persons, agencies, and organizations who provide interpreting services in the Maine State Courts. Violation of any provisions of the standards by any person, agency or organization providing interpreting services in the Maine State Courts shall result in sanctions that may include, but are not limited to, removal of that person, agency or organization from the Judicial Branch's approved roster of interpreters. 

Members of the public are frequently accompanied to court by family and friends who offer support. For persons of limited English proficiency this support can include communication with court staff and other officials. This support, while welcomed by the court system, does not substitute for an official interpreter. Because family members and friends who are providing assistance are not serving as interpreters, these standards do not apply to them. 

Section 2: Effective Date

These standards take effect on January 1, 2005. All persons to whom these standards are applicable on that date, and all persons to whom these standards thereafter become applicable, shall comply immediately with all provisions of the standards. Failure or refusal to comply with any provisions of the standards by any person, agency or organization providing interpreting services in the Maine State Courts shall result in sanctions that may include, but are not limited to, removal of that person, agency or organization from the Judicial Branch's approved roster of interpreters.

Section 3: Definitions

1. "Appropriate Judicial Authority" means the Communication Access Specialist within the Administrative Office of the Courts.
2. "Presiding Officer" means the Judge, Justice, Magistrate, or Mediator overseeing the proceeding.

III. Standards

Standard 1: Accuracy and Completeness 

Interpreters shall render a complete and accurate interpretation or sight translation, without altering, omitting, or adding anything to what is stated or written, and without explanation.

Commentary: 

The interpreter has a twofold duty: 1) to ensure that the proceedings in English reflect precisely what was said by a non-English speaking person, and 2) to place the non-English speaking person on an equal footing with those who understand English. This creates an obligation to conserve every element of information contained in a source language communication when it is rendered in the target language. 

Therefore, interpreters are obligated to apply their best skills and judgment to preserve faithfully the meaning of what is said in court, including the style or register of speech. Verbatim, "word for word," or literal oral interpretations are not appropriate when they distort the meaning of the source language, but every spoken statement, even if it appears non-responsive, obscene, rambling, or incoherent should be interpreted. This includes apparent misstatements.

Interpreters should never interject their own words, phrases, or expressions. If the need arises to explain an interpreting problem (e.g., a term or phrase with no direct equivalent in the target language or a misunderstanding that only the interpreter can clarify), the interpreter should ask the presiding officer's permission to provide an explanation. Interpreters should convey the emotional emphasis of the speaker without reenacting or mimicking the speaker's emotions, or dramatic gestures. 

Sign language interpreters, however, must employ all of the visual cues that the language they are interpreting for requires -- including facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures. Sign language interpreters, therefore, should ensure that court participants do not confuse these essential elements of the interpreted language with inappropriate interpreter conduct. 

The obligation to preserve accuracy includes the interpreter's duty to correct any error of interpretation discovered by the interpreter during the proceeding. Interpreters should demonstrate their professionalism by objectively analyzing any challenge to their performance.

Standard 2: Representation of Qualifications 

Interpreters shall accurately and completely represent their certifications, training, and pertinent experience.

Commentary: 

Acceptance of a case by an interpreter conveys linguistic competency in legal settings. Withdrawing or being asked to withdraw from a case after it begins causes a disruption of court proceedings and is wasteful of scarce public resources. It is therefore essential that interpreters present a complete and truthful account of their training, certification, and experience prior to appointment so the officers of the court can fairly evaluate their qualifications for delivering interpreting services.

Standard 3: Impartiality and Avoidance of Conflict of Interest

Interpreters shall be impartial and unbiased and shall refrain from conduct that may give an appearance of bias. Interpreters shall disclose any real or perceived conflict of interest. 

Commentary: 

The interpreter serves as an officer of the court and the interpreter's duty in a court proceeding is to serve the court and the public to which the court is a servant. This is true regardless of whether the interpreter is publicly retained at government expense or retained privately at the expense of one of the parties. 

The interpreter shall avoid any conduct or behavior that presents the appearance of favoritism toward any of the parties. Interpreters should maintain professional relationships with their clients, and should not take an active part in any of the proceedings. 

During the course of the proceedings, interpreters should not converse with parties, witnesses, jurors, attorneys, or with friends or relatives of any party, except in the discharge of their official functions. It is especially important that interpreters, who are often familiar with attorneys or other members of the courtroom work group, including law enforcement officers, refrain from casual and personal conversations with anyone in court that may convey an appearance of a special relationship or partiality to any of the court participants. 

The interpreter must strive for professional detachment. Verbal and non-verbal displays of personal attitudes, prejudices, emotions, or opinions shall be avoided at all times. 

Should an interpreter become aware that a proceeding participant views the interpreter as having a bias or being biased, the interpreter shall disclose that knowledge to the appropriate judicial authority and counsel. 

Any condition that interferes with the objectivity of an interpreter constitutes a conflict of interest. Before providing services in a matter, court interpreters must disclose to all parties and presiding officers any prior involvement, whether personal or professional, that could be reasonably construed as a conflict of interest. This disclosure should not include privileged or confidential information. 

The following are circumstances that are presumed to create actual or apparent conflicts of interest for interpreters where interpreters should not serve:

1. The interpreter is a friend, associate, or relative of a party or counsel for a party involved in the proceedings; 
2. The interpreter has served in an investigative capacity for any party involved in the case; 
3. The interpreter has previously been retained by a law enforcement agency to assist in the preparation of the criminal case at issue; 
4. The interpreter or the interpreter's spouse or child has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that would be affected by the outcome of the case; 
5. The interpreter has been involved in the choice of counsel or law firm for that case.

Interpreters shall disclose to the presiding officer and other parties when they have previously been retained for private employment by one of the parties in the case. 

Interpreters shall not serve in any matter in which payment for their services is contingent upon the outcome of the case. 

An interpreter who is also an attorney shall not serve in both capacities in the same matter. 

Standard 4: Professional Demeanor

Interpreters shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the dignity of the court and shall be as unobtrusive as possible. 

Commentary: 

Interpreters must know and observe the established protocol, rules, and procedures for delivering interpreting services. When speaking in English, interpreters should speak at a rate and volume that enable them to be heard and understood throughout the courtroom, but the interpreter's presence should otherwise be as unobtrusive as possible. Interpreters should work without drawing undue or inappropriate attention to themselves. Interpreters should dress in a manner that is consistent with the dignity of the proceedings of the court.

Interpreters should avoid obstructing the view of any of the individuals involved in the proceedings. However, interpreters who use sign language or other visual modes of communication must be positioned so that hand gestures, facial expressions, and whole body movement are visible to the person for whom they are interpreting.

Interpreters should avoid personal or professional conduct that could discredit the court. 

Standard 5: Confidentiality

Interpreters shall protect the confidentiality of all privileged and other confidential information. 

Commentary: 

The interpreter must protect and uphold the confidentiality of all privileged information obtained during the course of her or his duties. It is especially important that the interpreter understands and upholds the attorney-client privilege, which requires confidentiality with respect to any communication between attorney and client. This rule also applies to other types of privileged communications.

Interpreters must also refrain from repeating or disclosing information obtained by them in the course of their employment that may be relevant to the legal proceeding.

In the event that an interpreter becomes aware of information that suggests imminent harm to someone or relates to a crime being committed during the course of the proceedings, the interpreter should immediately disclose the information to the appropriate judicial authority who is not involved in the proceeding and seek advice in regard to the potential conflict in professional responsibility.

Standard 6: Restriction of Public Comment

Interpreters shall not publicly discuss, report, or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which they are or have been engaged, even when that information is not privileged or required by law to be confidential. 

Standard 7: Scope of Practice

Interpreters shall limit themselves to interpreting or translating, and shall not give legal advice, express personal opinions to individuals for whom they are interpreting, or engage in any other activities which may be construed to constitute a service other than interpreting or translating while serving as an interpreter. 

Commentary: 

Since interpreters are responsible only for enabling others to communicate, they should limit themselves to the activity of interpreting or translating only. Interpreters should refrain from initiating communications while interpreting unless it is necessary for assuring an accurate and faithful interpretation.

Interpreters may be required to initiate communications during a proceeding when they find it necessary to seek assistance in performing their duties. Examples of such circumstances include seeking direction when unable to understand or express a word or thought, requesting speakers to moderate their rate of communication or repeat or rephrase something, correcting their own interpreting errors, or notifying the court of reservations about their ability to satisfy an assignment competently. In such instances they should make it clear that they are speaking for themselves. 

An interpreter may convey legal advice from an attorney to a person only while that attorney is giving it. An interpreter must not explain the purpose of forms, services, or otherwise act as a counselor or advisor unless he or she is interpreting for someone who is acting in thatofficial capacity. The interpreter may translate language on a form for a person who is filling out the form, but may not explain the form or its purpose for such a person. 

The interpreter should not personally perform official acts that are the official responsibility of other court officials including, but not limited to, court clerks, pretrial release investigators or interviewers, or probation counselors.

Standard 8: Assessing and Reporting Impediments to Performance

Interpreters shall assess at all times their ability to deliver their services. When interpreters have any reservation about their ability to satisfy an assignment competently, they shall immediately convey that reservation to the appropriate judicial authority. 

Commentary:

If the communication mode or language of the non-English-speaking person cannot be readily interpreted, the interpreter should notify the appropriate judicial authority. 

Interpreters must notify the presiding officer of any environmental or physical limitation that impedes or hinders their ability to deliver interpreting services adequately (e.g., 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). Sign language interpreters must ensure that they can both see and convey the full range of visual language elements that are necessary for communication, including facial expressions and body movement, as well as hand gestures.

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 (e.g., 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 time or more intensive research, interpreters should inform the presiding officer.

Interpreters should refrain from accepting a case if they feel the language and subject matter of that case is 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. 

Interpreters must notify the presiding officer of any personal bias they may have involving any aspect of the proceedings. For example, an interpreter who has been the victim of a sexual assault may wish to be excused from interpreting in cases involving similar offenses.

Standard 9: Duty to Report Ethical Violations 

Interpreters shall report to the appropriate judicial authority any effort to impede their compliance with any law, any provision of these standards, or any other official policy governing court interpreting and legal translating. 

Commentary: 

Because the users of interpreting services frequently misunderstand the proper role of the interpreter, they may ask or expect the interpreter to perform duties or engage in activities that run counter to the provisions of these standards or other laws, regulations, or policies governing court interpreters. It is incumbent upon the interpreter to inform such persons of his or her professional obligations. If, having been apprised of these obligations, the person persists in demanding that the interpreter violate them, the interpreter should turn to a supervisory interpreter, the appropriate judicial authority to resolve the situation. 

Standard 10: Professional Development 

Interpreters shall continually improve their skills and knowledge and advance the profession through activities such as professional training and education, and interaction with colleagues and specialists in related fields.

Commentary: 

Interpreters must continually strive to increase their knowledge of the languages they work in professionally, including past and current trends in technical, vernacular, and regional terminology as well as their application within court proceedings. Interpreters should keep informed of all statutes, rules of courts and policies of the judiciary that relate to the performance of their professional duties. An interpreter should seek to elevate the standards of the profession through participation in workshops, professional meetings, interaction with colleagues, and reading current literature in the field.