Wash. Gen. R. 11.1

(a) Purpose and Scope. This rule establishes the Interpreter and Language Access

Commission (Commission) and prescribes the conditions of its activities. This rule does not

modify or duplicate the statutory process directing the Court Interpreter Program as it is

administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) (chapter 2.43 RCW). The

Commission will develop policies for the Interpreter Program and the Program Policy Manual,

published on the Washington Court's website at www.courts.wa.gov, which shall constitute the

official version of policies governing the Court Interpreter Program. The Commission shall

establish and promulgate guidelines on interpreting, translation, and language access matters

affecting individuals who are Limited-English-proficient or who use a signed language.

(b) Jurisdiction and Powers. Every interpreter serving in a legal proceeding must comply

with GR 11.2, the Code of Professional Responsibility for Judiciary Interpreters, and is subject to

the rules and regulations specified in the Court Interpreter Disciplinary Policy Manual. The

Commission shall establish four committees to fulfill ongoing functions related to language

access issues, discipline, and judicial/court administration education. Each committee shall

consist of at least three Commission members and one member shall be identified as the chair.

(1) The Issues Committee is assigned issues, complaints, and/or requests from or about

interpreters and interpreting for review and response. If the situation cannot be resolved at the

Issues Committee level, the matter will be submitted by written referral to the Disciplinary

Committee.

The Issues Committee will also address issues, complaints, and/or requests regarding

access to interpreter services in the courts and may communicate with individual courts in an

effort to assist in complying with language access directives required by law.

(2) The Disciplinary Committee may sanction any interpreter serving in a legal proceeding

for a violation of GR 11.2, the Code of Professional Responsibility for Judiciary Interpreters,

and has the authority to decertify or deny credentials to interpreters based on the disciplinary

procedures for: (a) violations of continuing education/court hour requirements, (b) failure to

comply with Code of Professional Responsibility for Judiciary Interpreters (GR 11.2) or

professional standards, or (c) violations of law that may interfere with their duties as an

interpreter in a legal proceeding. The Disciplinary Committee will decide on appeal any issues

submitted by the Issues Committee.

(3) The Judicial and Court Administration Education Committee shall provide ongoing

opportunities for training and resources to judicial officers, court administrators, and court staff

related to court interpretation improvement.

(4) The Translation Committee shall provide guidelines to courts on matters that involve

written documents of a legal nature or that are related to accessing the court through textual

means, whether digital or otherwise.

(c) Establishment. The Supreme Court shall appoint no more than 20 members to the

Commission and shall designate the chair and cochair of the Commission. The Commission shall

include representatives from the following areas of expertise: judicial officers from the appellate

and each trial court level (3), spoken language interpreter (2), sign language interpreter (1),

certified Deaf interpreter representative (1), court administrator (1), attorney (1), public member

(2), representative from ethnic organization (1), an AOC representative (1), Deaf community

representative (1), translator or translation services representative (1) who shall hold a certified

interpreting credential from the AOC and be practicing professional translator, and other

representatives as needed. The term for a member of the Commission shall be three years.

Members are eligible to serve a subsequent 3-year term. Members shall serve on at least one

committee and committees may be supplemented by ad hoc professionals as designated by the

chair. Ad hoc members may not serve as the chair of a committee.

(d) Regulations. Policies outlining rules and regulations directing the interpreter program

are specified in the Interpreter Program Manual. The Commission, through the Issues Committee

and Disciplinary Committee, shall enforce the policies of the interpreter program. Interpreter

program policies may be modified at any time by the Commission and AOC.

(e) Existing Law Unchanged. This rule shall not expand, narrow, or otherwise affect

existing law, including but not limited to chapter 2.43 RCW.

(f) Meetings. The Commission shall hold meetings as determined necessary by the chair.

Meetings of the Commission are open to the public except for executive sessions and

disciplinary meetings related to action against an interpreter.

(g) Immunity from Liability. No cause of action against the Commission, its standing

members or ad hoc members appointed by the Commission, shall accrue in favor of a court

interpreter or any other person arising from any act taken pursuant to this rule, provided that the

Commission members or ad hoc members acted in good faith. The burden of proving that the

acts were not taken in good faith shall be on the party asserting it.