An Interpreter In Court
G.L. c. 221C, § 2 — a right to a qualified interpreter throughout a legal proceeding
Massachusetts writes it as a right held by the person rather than only a duty on the court: a non-English speaker, throughout a legal proceeding, has a right to the assistance of a qualified interpreter appointed by the judge.
When none is available. Where the judge finds no qualified interpreter of the person's language reasonably available, the statute provides instead for a certified interpreter appointed by the judge, and the court reports every such instance to the coordinator of interpreter services.
Throughout, not only on the stand. The right runs through the whole legal proceeding, not only while the person is testifying.
Interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are covered by a separate chapter. Court rules on interpreter certification, scheduling, and the interpreter's code of conduct sit alongside the statute and are not on this page. Whether a particular proceeding was interpreted adequately, and what follows if it was not, are questions for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.L. c. 221C, § 2 — Right to assistance; availability of qualified interpreters; reports
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.