An Interpreter In Court
Gov't Code 57.002 — a licensed or certified interpreter on a party's motion or a witness's request
Texas puts the duty on the court in two places: one section for every civil or criminal proceeding, and an article of the Code of Criminal Procedure for criminal cases.
- A court appoints a certified court interpreter or a certified CART provider for an individual who has a hearing impairment, or a licensed court interpreter for an individual who can hear but does not comprehend or communicate in English, when a party files a motion for one or a witness requests one.
- A court may also appoint one on its own motion.
- In a criminal proceeding, when a party moves for an interpreter or the court does, and the court finds that the person charged or a witness does not understand and speak English, an interpreter is appointed and sworn to interpret for that person.
Who pays. A party who files a statement of inability to afford court costs under the civil rules is not required to provide an interpreter at their own expense or pay for one appointed under the section, unless the statement was contested and the court ordered the party to pay. Interpreter services and other auxiliary aids for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have communication disabilities are provided free of charge under federal and state law.
When the only interpreter is not enough. If the only available interpreter lacks adequate skill for the situation or is unfamiliar with slang, the court may let the person charged or the witness nominate another person to act as an intermediary between them and the appointed interpreter. A qualified telephone interpreter may also be sworn in a criminal proceeding when no interpreter can appear in person.
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 Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Gov't Code 57.002 — Appointment of interpreter or CART provider; CART provider list; payment of interpreter costs
- Crim. Proc. art. 38.30 — Interpreter
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.