WI · jury_instructions
Wis JI-Criminal 60
Preliminary Instruction: Use of an Interpreter for a Witness
No matter what language people speak, they have the right to have their testimony heard
and understood. You are about to hear a trial in which an interpreter will translate for one or
more of the witnesses. The interpreter is required to remain neutral. The interpreter is
required to translate between English and [insert appropriate other language] accurately and
impartially to the best of the interpreter's skill and judgment.
The evidence you are to consider is only that provided through the official court
interpreter. Although some of you may know the non-English language used, it is important
that all jurors consider the same evidence. Therefore, you must base your decision on the
evidence presented in the English translation. You must disregard any different meaning of
the non-English words.
You must evaluate interpreted testimony as you would any other testimony. That is, you
must not give interpreted testimony any greater or lesser weight than you would if the witness
had spoken English.
ADD THE FOLLOWING IF APPROPRIATE:
[Keep in mind that a person might speak some English without speaking it fluently. That
person has the right to the services of an interpreter. Therefore, you shall not give greater or
lesser weight to a person's translated testimony based on your conclusions, if any, regarding
the extent to which that person speaks English.]
History
Wis JI-Criminal 60 (2003). Release No. 41, 4/2003. © 2003, Regents, Univ. of Wis. Prepared by the Wisconsin Criminal Jury Instructions Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference with the University of Wisconsin Law School; posted by the Wisconsin State Law Library with the University's permission.
Provenance
- Source
- wilawlibrary.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
3423aba3bf4bf3c4ba23297d8aae1bbed970cb57462189d0b22397c7ea1786ef
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