Section 38-10-2 - Definitions. - New Mexico Statutes

38-10-2. Definitions.

As used in the Court Interpreters Act [38-10-1 to 38-10-8 NMSA 1978]:   

A.     "appointing authority" means the presiding judge of a court in which an interpreter is required pursuant to the provisions of the Court Interpreters Act;   

B.     "interpreter" means a person who has a sufficient range of formal and informal language skills in English and another language so that he is readily able to interpret, translate and communicate simultaneously and consecutively in either direction between a non-English speaking person and other parties;   

C.     "non-English speaking person" means a person who:   

(1)     cannot speak or understand the English language;   

(2)     speaks only or primarily a language other than the English language; or   

(3)     has a dominant language other than English, which inhibits that person's comprehension of the proceedings or communication with counsel or the presiding judicial officer;   

D.     "principal party in interest" means a person in a judicial proceeding who is a named party or who will or may be bound by the decision or action or foreclosed from pursuing his rights by the decision or action which may be taken in the proceeding; and   

E.     "witness" means a witness in any judicial proceeding.