The 19th 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 19th 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.
The Interpreters Office is responsible for providing interpretation for Limited English Proficient persons participating in most court proceedings where a fundamental interest is at stake.
Interpretations are impartial, accurate, complete, without any additions, omissions, or explanations, and maintain the registry of the language spoken.
Interpreters are “conduits” that convey a message (words, intonation, cultural nuance, etc.) from one language to another.
Interpreters are officers of the court, and they cannot give legal advice or be advocates for any of the parties.
The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Interpreters Office has eight Spanish, and two Haitian Creole interpreters. There is at least one Spanish interpreter in each courthouse, except for the St. Lucie West Annex. Interpreters for other languages can be procured upon request.
The Interpreters Department requires a minimum of seven (7) business days to confirm the availability of an interpreter; more for languages of lesser diffusion.
The proceedings covered by interpreters include:
- First appearances;
- All county and circuit criminal hearings and trials;
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings, including mediations;
- Juvenile detention and shelter hearings;
- Termination of parental rights hearings;
- Criminal contempt hearings that result from civil proceedings;
- Domestic violence injunctions cases;
- Baker Act and Marchman Act proceedings;
- Department of Revenue cases heard by a general magistrate or hearing officer;
- Guardianship proceedings;
- Other proceedings as may be required by law or rule, or requested by the court.
The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Interpreters Office DOES NOT provide interpreters for traffic court, out-of-court interviews or depositions.
Please, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section before requesting an interpreter.
To request a spoken language court interpreter:
Visit us at our website and fill out the request form HERE
Or call the Interpreter’s office (772) 462-1947.