476.803. Appointment of interpreters and translators, when--waiver, when--oath required. - Missouri Statutes

Appointment of interpreters and translators, when--waiver,when--oath required.

476.803. 1. The courts shall appoint qualified interpreters andtranslators in all legal proceedings in which the non-English speakingperson is a party or a witness.

2. Any non-English speaking party or any party who intends to call anon-English speaking witness shall provide such prior notice to the courtof the need for an interpreter or translator as may be required by courtrules.

3. The appointing authority shall appoint a qualified interpreter toassist the non-English speaking parent, guardian, or custodian of ajuvenile brought before the court.

4. The court may accept a waiver of the right to a qualifiedinterpreter by a non-English speaking person at any point in the courtproceeding if the court advises the person of the nature and effect of thewaiver and determines that the waiver has been made knowingly,intelligently, and voluntarily. The non-English speaking person mayretract his or her waiver and request that a qualified interpreter shall beappointed.

5. An interpreter shall take an oath that he or she will make a trueinterpretation to the party or witness in a language that the party orwitness understands and that he or she will make a true interpretation ofthe party or witness' answers to questions to counsel, court, or jury, inthe English language, with his or her best skill and judgment. Theinterpreter shall not give explanations or legal advice or express personalopinions.

6. An interpreter or translator cannot be compelled to testify as tothe information that would otherwise be protected by attorney-clientprivilege as between the party and his or her attorney.

(L. 2004 S.B. 1211 § 476.810)