The Tenth 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.
Sign Language Interpreters
Administrative Order 1-21.5 - Re: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 (hereinafter “ADA”) requires that reasonable accommodations be provided to requesting qualified persons with disabilities in order that they might participate fully in court programs, services, activities, and benefits:
If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Office of the Court Administrator, 255 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, Florida 33830, (863) 534-4686, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
TO REQUEST A COURT RELATED ADA ACCOMMODATION:
Please call the Office of the Court Administrator at (863) 534-4686; or follow this link to submit an ADA accommodation request online: https://www.jud10.flcourts.org/ada-accommodation-request
Spoken Language Court Interpreters
Administrative Order 1-52.1 - In Re: Interpreters For Non-English Speaking Persons, Limited-English Proficient Persons, And Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Persons.
The Tenth 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. 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 spoken language court interpreters must be received at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled proceeding. In the case of certain languages of lesser diffusion or unscheduled interpreting, more time may be necessary to arrange for a qualified interpreter and a remote interpreting service may be used.
