Rule 24 - Procedure For Obtaining An Interpreter For Civil Hearings Or Trials24.1 For some actions in civil district court, non-English-speaking parties are entitled to an interpreter at state expense.24.2 Actions where the state is responsible for funding an interpreter include Chapter 50C cases; summary ejectment actions whether filed initially in district court or filed as an appeal from a small claims judgment; all other small claims appeals to district court; and criminal and/or civil contempt matters;24.3 It is the responsibility of the party in need of an interpreter in qualified cases to fill out and submit an interpreter request form in English at least 10 days before the hearing date (or as soon as feasible in Chapter 50C cases, which are sometimes scheduled in less than 10 days). In Chapter 50C cases, the party should also notify the 6330 courtroom clerk if the party will be requesting an interpreter. The interpreter request form is located at http://nccourts.org/LanguageAccess/Documents/InterpreterRequestForm.pdf. When you select the county where the court hearing will take place, the form will be submitted by email. If the non-English speaking party is unable to submit the interpreter request timely due to a language barrier, the Court may continue the matter in the interests of justice so that an interpreter can be secured before the next hearing date.24.4 For civil cases that do not qualify for state-funding interpreter services or if you need an interpreter to communicate with a non-English-speaking client or witness outside of a court proceeding, you will need to hire an interpreter at your own expense. A list of Spanish certified court interpreters can be found at: http://www.nccourts.org/LanguageAccess/Documents/SpanishForeignLanguageRegistry.pdf For an interpreter in any other language not Spanish, you would need to contact the OLAS office at 919-890-1407 or OLAS@nccourts.org .24.5 Failure to provide sufficient time to secure a qualified interpreter likely will result in a delay or postponement of the court proceeding if a qualified interpreter is not available.24.6 Once services are requested, if it is determined before the court date that the case will not go forward as scheduled, you must notify the local Language Access Coordinator ("LAC") in the Mecklenburg County Trial Court Administrator's Office so services can be cancelled in a timely manner (no less than 24 hours) to avoid unnecessary cancellation charges. Emails to notify the LAC of a request for interpreter services or to cancel interpreter services shall be directed to Mecklenburg.Interpreter@nccourts.org AND Michael.A.Cortez@nccourts.org.N.c. R. Prac. Sup. & Dist. Ct. Civ. P. 24
Revised 11/13/2015; effective 1/1/2016.