Public Notice Detail
Judicial Branch Seeks Comments on Remote Interpreting Policies

Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Judicial Branch is proposing revisions to existing policies as well as making a new policy to permit the use of remote interpreting services, which is the use of technology (such as telephone or Interactive video) to provide interpreting services to a courtroom from a remote location. 

Remote Interpreting Fact Sheet

The Judicial Council and the State Court Administrator request comments regarding these policies, and will consider adoption after reviewing all comments received: 

  • Judicial Council Policy 513 - This is an existing Judicial Council policy relating to court interpreting. All proposed new language, whichexplicitly permits the use of remote interpreting in Minnesota courts, is underlined.
  • State Court Administrator Policy 513(a) - This is the existing court interpreter payment policy, which includesproposed amendments to establish payment rates for on-site and off-site remote interpreting. The proposed changes utilize the payment structures that are currently in place for in-person court interpreting and telephone interpreting. Proposed new language is underlined; proposed deleted language is indicated with overstrike.
  • State Court Administrator Policy 513(b) - This is a proposed new State Court Administrator policy that sets forth the administrative procedures for utilizing remote court interpreting. The entire policy is proposed new language.

It should be noted that if these policies are adopted, the State Court Administrator's Office plans to closely monitor the use of remote interpreting, which may result in additional recommendations for policy changes in the future as we gain more experience with this form of court interpreting.

Please submit comments in writing by Dec. 11, 2009, by letter or email to:
James Eberspacher, Court Operations Analyst
State Court Administrator's Office
Court Services Division
25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, Suite 105
St. Paul, MN  55155