US · rules
D.R.I. LR Gen 108
Interpreters
(a) Use of Interpreter. Whether a language or sign language interpreter is required in any
proceeding shall be determined by the Court. No interpreter shall participate in any
proceeding unless first approved by the Court.
(b) Requests for Interpreters.
(1) Cases Brought by the United States. In all criminal cases and in civil cases
initiated by the United States, requests for interpreters shall be made to this
Court’s staff interpreter. The Federal Defender and counsel appointed by the
Court representing an indigent client shall use the Court’s staff interpreter,
whenever possible, for all in-court proceedings.
Unless otherwise authorized by the Court, counsel for a party who intends to seek
reimbursement for interpreter services provided outside of Court proceedings
shall first request such services from the Court’s staff interpreter. If the Court’s
staff interpreter is unavailable to provide such services, counsel may utilize a
suitable replacement in accordance with the procedures outlined in the District of
Rhode Island’s Criminal Justice Act Plan.
(2) Other Cases. In all other cases, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, a party
seeking to utilize an interpreter shall be responsible for obtaining and
compensating the interpreter; provided, however, any such interpreter who
participates in a proceeding before the Court must first be approved in accordance
with subsection (a) of this Rule.
(c) Number of Interpreters. Unless the Court otherwise orders for good cause shown, no
more than one interpreter shall be provided, at Court expense, to any party.
(d) Auxiliary Aides for the Hearing Impaired. Interpreter services, including services
rendered by a properly qualified sign language interpreter, for a person who is hearing-impaired or who otherwise has a communication disability shall be obtained in the same
manner as language interpreter services. When a party or witness in a proceeding is
hearing-impaired, the Court, where and to the extent appropriate, may provide auxiliary
aids, such as real time transcription in lieu of a sign language interpreter.
Effective 12/2/13: §(b)(1) amended.
History
CROSS-REFERENCES See generally 28 U.S.C §§ 1827-1828 (provision of interpreter services in federal district courts); 28 U.S.C. §1920(6) (taxation of interpreter costs) and § 1918 (taxation of costs of prosecution). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 43(f) (appointment and cost of interpreters in civil proceedings), Fed. R. Crim. P. 28 (interpreters in criminal proceedings), LR Cv 54 (taxation of costs in civil cases), and Criminal Justice Act Plan for the District of Rhode Island.
Provenance
- Source
- www.rid.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-18
- Edition
- fed-district-2026-09-19
- Content hash
cf9c15ee13dc40a634aa9e309701de390c92fe18d46df3c07b070eb897594ba4
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