Department of Translation and Interpretation

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit is committed to providing qualified interpreters to limited-English-proficient and deaf persons in order to eliminate communication barriers that may prevent full participation in court proceedings necessary to ensure due process and equal access to the courts.

Spoken Language Court Interpreters

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit provides spoken language court interpreters to limited-English-proficient persons in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, section 90.606, Florida Statutes, and Rule 2.560, Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
Qualified spoken language court interpreters will be appointed where a fundamental interest is at stake and the inability of individuals to understand or express themselves in English may prevent full and necessary participation in court proceedings. Such cases include, but are not limited to, circuit and county criminal, juvenile delinquency and dependency, paternity, domestic violence injunction, mental health and incapacity proceedings, and any other matters in which the court determines an interpreter is necessary.
When staff interpreter services are needed to assist in more hearings than the Department has personnel to cover, cases will be given priority in the following order:

1. First appearances, detention hearings and reviews, shelter hearings, and final injunction hearings
2. Felony trials
3. Other felony matters
4. Misdemeanor cases
5. Delinquency cases
6. Dependency cases, except shelter hearings
7. Civil commitment hearings
8. Civil traffic cases
9. Diversion programs operated by the courts
10. Other civil cases

Qualified spoken language court interpreters will also be appointed for limited-English-proficient witnesses in any proceeding and for limited-English-proficient victims in any circuit or county criminal or juvenile delinquency proceeding.

Requests for Spanish and Creole spoken language court interpreters, in-person or via audio/visual conference platform (zoom), may be requested 3 (three) business days in advance of the scheduled hearing. All other spoken language court interpreter requests must be submitted 10 (ten) business days if in-person, and 5 (five) business days if the request is for audio/visual conference platform (zoom), in advance of the scheduled hearing. More time may be needed for languages of lesser diffusion.

Sign Language Interpreters

Additionally, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit provides interpreter services and reasonable accommodations for deaf persons in all cases in accordance with section 90.6063, Florida Statutes, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you need a sign language interpreter or accommodation, you are entitled to one at no cost to you. Requests for sign language interpreters should be made at least 5 days prior to the scheduled event when possible. To request a sign language interpreter or ADA Accommodation, please click on link below.