American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters

RCW Chapter 2.42 secures the rights of deaf and hearing impaired persons to interpreters. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters are certified by national organizations including the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID). ASL interpreters are not certified specifically for court interpreting, but certification (RID: SC: L [Specialist Certificate: Legal]) is available for interpreting in legal situations.

State law directs courts to obtain certified ASL interpreters through the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) or other community center referral service. ODHH maintains a list of approved interpreters, both certified and not.

Courts are encouraged to use ASL interpreters who have a Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID): SC:L (Specialist Certificate: Legal). Courts should use the RID Find an Interpreter service to find SC:L interpreters.

If an SC:L interpreter is not available, the court should obtain an interpreter with an NIC, NAD V or a CI/CT certification.