COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio courts will be required to hire a foreign language or sign language interpreter in some cases, under a new rule adopted by the state Supreme Court.
The state’s highest court announced today that the rule taking effect Jan. 1, 2013 says an interpreter must be paid for if the service is necessary to allow a person involved in a court case to participate meaningfully.
The Supreme Court in February certified a group of court interpreters for the first time. Officials say Ohio courts handle more than 25,000 cases a year that require an interpreter and accommodate about 80 languages.
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Dodge2002 -- let's remember that not everyone involved in a court case may be someone who is a citizen (legally or illegally) of the U.S. Imagine if you were simply visiting a foreign country and had a run in with the law, whether you were at fault or not. Would you not appreciate someone in the courtroom who could help you communicate with officials? My point is that this is not a cut and dry issue as you make it out to be, all circumstances are different.