RULE 11.1
         PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF INTERPRETER COMMISSION


     (a) Purpose and Scope.  This rule establishes the
Interpreter Commission ("Commission") and prescribes the
conditions of its activities.  This rule does not modify or
duplicate the statutory process directing the Court
Certified Interpreter Program as it is administered by the
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) (RCW 2.43).  The
Interpreter Commission will develop policies for the
Interpreter Program and the Program Policy Manual, published
on the Washington Court's website at www.courts.wa.gov,
which shall constitute the official version of policies
governing the Court Certified Interpreter Program.

     (b) Jurisdiction and Powers.  All certified court
interpreters who are certified in the state of Washington by
AOC are subject to rules and regulations specified in the
Interpreter Program Manual.  The Commission shall establish
three committees to fulfill ongoing functions related to
issues, discipline, and judicial/court administration
education.  Each committee shall consist of three Commission
members and one member shall be identified as the chair.

     (1) The Issues Committee is assigned issues,
     complaints, and/or requests from interpreters for
     review and response.  If the situation cannot be
     resolved at the Issues Committee level, the matter will
     be submitted by written referral to the Disciplinary Committee.

     (2) The Disciplinary Committee has the authority to
     decertify and deny certification of interpreters based
     on the disciplinary procedures for:  (a) violations of
     continuing education/court hour requirements, (b)
     failure to comply with Interpreter Code of Conduct (GR
     11.2) or professional standards, or (3) violations of
     law that may interfere with their duties as a certified
     court interpreter.  The Disciplinary Committee will
     decide on appeal any issues submitted by the Issues Committee.

     (3) The Judicial and Court Administration Education
     Committee shall provide ongoing opportunities for
     training and resources to judicial officers and court
     administrators related to court interpretation improvement.

     (c) Establishment.  The Supreme Court shall appoint
members to the Interpreter Commission.  The Supreme Court
shall designate the chair of the Commission.  The Commission
shall include representatives from the following areas of
expertise:  judicial officers from the appellate and each
trial court level (3), interpreter (2), court administrator
(1), attorney (1), public member (2), representative from
ethnic organization (1), and AOC representative (1).  The
term for a member of the Commission shall be three years.
Members are eligible to serve a subsequent 3 year term.  The
Commission shall consist of eleven members.  Members shall
only serve on one committee and committees may be
supplemented by ad hoc professionals as designated by the
chair.  Ad hoc members may not serve as the chair of a committee.

     (d) Regulations.  Policies outlining rules and
regulations directing the interpreter program are specified
in the Interpreter Program Manual.  The Commission, through
the Issues Committee and Disciplinary Committee, shall
enforce the policies of the interpreter program.
Interpreter program policies may be modified at any time by
the Commission and AOC.

     (e) Existing Law Unchanged.  This rule shall not
expand, narrow, or otherwise affect existing law, including
but not limited to RCW chapter 2.43.

     (f) Meetings.  The Commission shall hold meetings as
determined necessary by the chair.  Meetings of the
Commission are open to the public except for executive
sessions and disciplinary meetings related to action against
a certified interpreter.

     (g) Immunity from Liability.  No cause of action
against the Commission, its standing members or ad hoc
members appointed by the Commission, shall accrue in favor
of a certified court interpreter or any other person arising
from any act taken pursuant to this rule, provided that the
Commission members or ad hoc members acted in good faith.
The burden of proving that the acts were not taken in good
faith shall be on the party asserting it.


[Adopted effective September 1, 2005]