(AOC) Payments and Compensation

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is charged by law and Supreme Court directive with
the responsibility for the certification and matters related thereto of foreign language interpreter for
non-English speaking parties or witnesses in the state and local courts of Arkansas. Ark. Code Ann.
_16-10-127 and Arkansas Supreme Court Per Curiam Order of September 30, 1999.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER COMPENSATION POLICY
The 2005 Arkansas General Assembly appropriated funds for the purpose of reimbursing the
services of eligible foreign language interpreters who serve during in-court proceedings in the state=s
circuit and district courts. Because the amount of money available is insufficient to provide for the
large number of interpreters providing services in the state, local courts are urged to utilize the
services of these interpreters as efficiently as possible. The Administrative Office of the Courts has
also employed two full-time Spanish interpreter who are available on request and as time permits to
provide direct interpreter services to local courts.
ELIGIBLE FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
An eligible foreign language interpreter is one whose name appears on the current registry of
interpreters maintained by the AOC and who has been appointed by the presiding judge to serve in a
particular case or cases. An eligible foreign language interpreter may also be an interpreter currently
certified by another state which is a member of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter
Certification or who is certified by the U.S. Courts, and has registered with the Arkansas Foreign
Language Interpreter Program. Written verification of current certification/qualification by the
certifying entity is required.
PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT
When a state circuit or district court becomes aware that a foreign language interpreter will be
needed for an in-court proceeding, the request should come in directly from the court by using a
FAX REQUEST FORM, provided by the AOC=s Foreign Language Interpreter Program, or by
calling the Coordinator, Ms. Mara Simmons at 1-800-950-8221. If a Spanish interpreter is required
and the staff interpreters are available, one will be scheduled to interpret for the proceeding. If
interpretation for a language other than Spanish is required or if the staff interpreters are not
available, she will contract with an available interpreter who is listed on the registry of interpreters.
Depending on the complexity of the case, Ms. Simmons will match the interpreter to the assignment.
At the conclusion of the interpreter=s court appointed services, the interpreter will complete the
appropriate portion of the interpreter payment form prescribed by the Administrative Office of the
Courts and present it to the judge for approval. The judge will certify that the party requiring the
interpreter was indigent and unable to otherwise afford the services of an interpreter and that the
interpreter provided the services for the court. The interpreter will then forward the form to the
Administrative Office of the Courts for payment.
In the event that the services of an interpreter are arranged locally without the knowledge or
assistance of the Administrative Office of the Courts, the responsibility for payment of the
interpreter=s fees and costs will be with the local court.
RATE OF PAYMENT
A certified interpreter, as denoted on the registry of interpreters, will be paid $50.00 per hour for
in-court services with a guaranteed one hour minimum. Additional hours in increments of 15
minutes will be paid at a rate of $40.00 per hour. Travel time will be reimbursed at the rate of
$20.00 per hour. Mileage will be reimbursed at the rate of .45 cents per mile. Travel time and
mileage will be reimbursed ONLY when the certified interpreter is required to travel outside of the
county where he or she resides. Notice of the cancellation of a proceeding for which a certified
interpreter has been scheduled should be provided by the Court to the Administrative Office
of the Courts as soon as possible. The AOC will contact the certified interpreter immediately. In
the event that notice of a cancellation is provided more than 24 hours prior to the commencement of
the proceeding the certified interpreter will not be entitled to any payment. In the event that notice
of a cancellation is provided less than 24 hours prior to the commencement of the proceeding, the
certified interpreter will be paid the one hour minimum for any proceeding which was set for less
than one full day and a rate equal to four hours of service for any proceeding which was set for more
than one full day. In the event the interpreter travels (outside of his/her county) to the assigned court
and the AOC did not receive notification of the cancellation the interpreter will also be reimbursed
for the travel time and mileage.
An interpreter whose name on the registry of interpreters appears as a candidate for certification
will be paid $20.00 per hour with a guaranteed one hour minimum. Additional hours should be
billed in increments of 15 minutes. Mileage will be reimbursed at the rate of .39 cents per mile
when the candidate for certification is required to travel outside of the county where he or she
resides. (Travel time will not be reimbursed to candidates for certification even when traveling
outside of the county where he or she resides).
Nothing contained herein precludes the presiding judge from ordering exclusive or additional
payment from another source as he or she deems appropriate (provided, Title II of the Americans
with Disabilities Act prohibits courts from including interpreter=s fees in the Acourt cost@).
56 Fed Reg 35705-06(July 26, 1991).
LIMITATION
Any payment from state funds is contingent upon verification by the AOC that (1) the interpreter is
eligible for payment, (2) the procedures outlined in this policy have been followed, and (3) sufficient
funds are available. Should it become necessary, based upon balances within the fund, preference
for payment will be given to felony criminal cases and then to juvenile delinquency matters. The
Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts will be the final arbiter for contested payments.