RCW 7.105.245
Interpreters.
(1) Pursuant to chapter 2.42 RCW, in order to ensure that parties have meaningful access to the court, an interpreter shall be appointed for any party who is deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or has a speech impairment and cannot readily understand or communicate in spoken language. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 2.42 RCW, the court shall not:
(a) Appoint an interpreter who is not credentialed or duly qualified by the court to provide interpretation services; or
(b) Appoint a person to provide interpretation services if that person is serving as an advocate for the party.
(2) Pursuant to chapter 2.43 RCW, in order to ensure that parties have meaningful access to the court, an interpreter shall be appointed for any party who cannot readily speak or understand the English language. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 2.43 RCW, the court shall not:
(a) Appoint an interpreter who is not credentialed or duly qualified by the court to provide interpretation services; or
(b) Appoint a person to provide interpretation services if that person is serving as an advocate for the party.
(3) Once an interpreter has been appointed for a party, the party shall no longer be required to make further requests for the appointment of an interpreter for subsequent hearings or proceedings. The clerk shall identify the party as a person who needs interpreter services and the clerk or the court administrator shall be responsible for ensuring that an interpreter is available for every subsequent hearing.
(4) The interpreter shall interpret for the party meeting with either counsel or court staff, or both, for the purpose of preparing forms and participating in the hearing and court-ordered assessments, and the interpreter shall sight translate any orders.
(5) The same interpreter shall not serve parties on both sides of the proceeding when not on the record, nor shall the interpreter appointed by the court for the proceeding be the same interpreter appointed for any court-ordered assessments, unless the court finds good cause on the record to do so because it is not possible to obtain more than one interpreter for the proceeding, or the safety of the litigants is not compromised, or any other reasons identified by the court.
(6) Courts shall make a private space available for parties, counsel, and/or court staff and interpreters to sight translate any written documents or to meet and confer.
(7) When a hearing is conducted through telephone, video, or other electronic means, the court must make appropriate arrangements to permit interpreters to serve the parties and the court as needed.
[ 2021 c 215 § 33.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2022 c 268; 2021 c 215: See note following RCW 7.105.900.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 7 - Special Proceedings and Actions
Chapter 7.105 - Civil Protection Orders.
7.105.065 - Jurisdiction—Vulnerable adult protection orders.
7.105.070 - Jurisdiction—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.080 - Personal jurisdiction over nonresidents.
7.105.085 - Out-of-state child custody jurisdictional issues.
7.105.100 - Filing—Types of petitions.
7.105.105 - Filing—Provisions governing all petitions.
7.105.110 - Filing—Provisions applicable to specified orders.
7.105.120 - Filing—Court clerk duties.
7.105.150 - Service—Methods of service.
7.105.155 - Service—Completion by law enforcement officer.
7.105.160 - Service—Materials.
7.105.175 - Service—Development of best practices.
7.105.200 - Hearings—Procedure.
7.105.205 - Hearings—Remote hearings.
7.105.215 - Hearings—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.220 - Hearings—Vulnerable adult protection orders.
7.105.225 - Grant of order, denial of order, and improper grounds.
7.105.230 - Judicial information system consultation.
7.105.235 - Compliance hearings.
7.105.240 - Appointment of counsel for petitioner.
7.105.250 - Protection order advocates and support persons.
7.105.255 - Judicial officer training.
7.105.300 - Application—RCW 7.105.305 through 7.105.325.
7.105.305 - Ex parte temporary protection orders—Other than for extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.315 - Duration of full protection orders—Other than for extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.325 - Entry of protection order data—Other than for extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.330 - Temporary protection orders—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.335 - Full orders—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.340 - Surrender of firearms—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.345 - Firearms return and disposal—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.350 - Reporting of orders—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.355 - Sealing of records—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.360 - Certain findings and information in orders.
7.105.365 - Errors in protection orders.
7.105.370 - Sealing of records—Recommendations.
7.105.375 - Dismissal or suspension of criminal prosecution in exchange for protection order.
7.105.400 - Reissuance of temporary protection orders.
7.105.405 - Renewal of protection orders—Other than extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.410 - Renewal—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.455 - Enforcement and penalties—Antiharassment protection orders.
7.105.460 - Enforcement and penalties—Extreme risk protection orders—False petitions.
7.105.465 - Enforcement and penalties—Knowledge of order.
7.105.470 - Enforcement—Prosecutor assistance.
7.105.505 - Termination—Extreme risk protection orders.
7.105.510 - Modification or termination—Vulnerable adult protection orders.
7.105.515 - Reporting of modification or termination of order.
7.105.555 - Judicial information system—Database.
7.105.560 - Title to real estate—Effect of chapter.
7.105.565 - Proceedings additional—Filing of criminal charges not required.
7.105.570 - Other authority retained.
7.105.580 - Protection order commissioners—Appointment authorized.
7.105.900 - Findings—2021 c 215.
7.105.902 - Recommendations on improving protection order proceedings.