                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

INTERPRETERS FOR DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS (§ 8.01-384.1)

In any civil proceeding in which a speech-impaired person or a person who is
deaf or hard of hearing is a party or witness, the court may appoint a qualified
interpreter to assist such person in the proceeding. The court shall appoint an
interpreter for any speech-impaired person or person who is deaf or hard of
hearing who requests this assistance.
		Interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing in these proceedings shall be
procured through the Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing; if the
Department cannot procure such services, then the court may appoint a readily
available interpreter with full certification from the Registry of Interpreters
for the Deaf, Inc., or an equivalent national certification. Such
court-appointed interpreter&#8217;s qualifications are subject to review and
approval by the Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing.
		Any person who is eligible for an interpreter pursuant to this section may
waive the use of an interpreter appointed by the court for all or a portion of
the proceedings. A person who waives his right to an interpreter may provide his
own interpreter at his own expense without regard to whether the interpreter is
qualified under this section.
		The compensation of interpreters appointed pursuant to this section shall be
fixed by the court and paid from the general fund of the state treasury or may,
in the discretion of the court, be assessed as a part of the cost of the
proceedings.
		The provisions of this section shall apply in both circuit courts and district
courts.

HISTORY: 1982, c. 444; 2019, c. 288; 2023, cc. 415, 416.