§ 16-31-108 - Interpreters for visually or hearing impaired jurors. - Arkansas Statutes

16-31-108. Interpreters for visually or hearing impaired jurors.

(a) (1) (A) The state, through the Administrative Office of the Courts, shall provide and pay the cost of reasonable accommodations for the hearing and visually impaired when necessary to enable a person with those disabilities to act as a venireperson or juror.

(B) Such accommodations may include a qualified sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, or other reasonable auxiliary aid for the hearing impaired or a reader for the visually impaired.

(C) In the event the juror indicates that he or she can be accommodated by several means, the Administrative Office of the Courts may consider the cost and availability of each accommodation when deciding which to provide.

(2) The interpreter, the person writing real-time captioning, and the reader, when necessary, shall be present throughout jury service, the trial, and when the jury assembles for deliberation.

(b) (1) Whenever a sign language interpreter, real-time captioning, or a reader is utilized in judicial proceedings or in jury deliberations, the court will administer an oath to the interpreter, the person writing the real-time captioning, and the reader, to ensure objective and unbiased translation and complete confidentiality of the proceedings.

(2) The court shall also instruct the interpreter, the person writing the real-time captioning, and the reader to make a true and complete translation of all testimony and other relevant colloquy to the best of his ability.

(3) The court shall further instruct the interpreter, the person writing the real-time captioning, and the reader to refrain from participating in any manner in the deliberations of the jury, except for the complete translations of jurors' remarks made during deliberations.

(c) The verdict of the jury shall be valid notwithstanding the presence of the interpreter during deliberations.