Translation and interpreting services in Buffalo

Language access rules in Wyoming

Court interpreter program

Wyoming Judicial Branch Court Interpreter Program, administered by the Court Interpreter Program Manager in the Wyoming Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), which maintains and posts the Wyoming Interpreter Roster of Professionally Certified and Registered interpreters.

Court-certified languages

Wyoming credentials spoken-language interpreters in two roster tiers: Professionally Certified interpreters complete a two-day orientation, pass the Wyoming written exam at 80%, and show certification from a recognized program and listing on another jurisdiction's roster (or similar credentialing), while Registered interpreters complete the same orientation and written exam and pass an Oral Proficiency Interview at Advanced-Mid or better. Sign language interpreters need RID or NAD credentials (SC:L, NIC, NIC-A, NIC-M, CI, CT, NAD V, or CDI) to be Professionally Certified.

The rule

The Wyoming Judicial Branch Spoken Language Interpreter Policy requires the court to appoint and pay for interpreters in felony and misdemeanor, forcible entry or detainer, juvenile delinquency and CHINS, protection order, abuse and neglect, Title IV-D paternity and support, relinquishment and termination of parental rights, and Title 25 mental health proceedings, and Wyo. Stat. § 5-1-109 requires the presiding judge, on petition, to appoint a qualified interpreter for a deaf or mute party in a civil or criminal case or a deaf or mute grand jury witness.

Order of preference and voir dire

The Spoken Language Interpreter Policy strongly encourages courts to prefer Professionally Certified, then Registered, then locally Qualified interpreters, and requires an on-the-record voir dire, including for family members and friends, before using any interpreter not on the roster.

Team interpreting

Absent exigent circumstances, Wyoming courts should provide and pay for two or more interpreters for proceedings scheduled to last three hours or more or involving multiple non-English languages, with interpreters alternating every 30 minutes.

Attorneys provide their own interpreters

The policy bars courts from paying for interpretation outside court proceedings, such as investigation, trial preparation, or client meetings (except short plea communications before a hearing), and expects prosecutors and attorneys to provide and pay for it.

Court interpreter pay rates

The Judicial Branch payment schedule sets interpreter rates, where possible, at $55 an hour for Professionally Certified, $40 for Registered, and $25 for Qualified interpreters, with a 30-minute minimum, and pays for the scheduled time, up to 16 hours, when an assignment is cancelled within 72 hours.

Official language

Wyo. Stat. § 8-6-101 designates English as Wyoming's official language and relieves state agencies and political subdivisions of any duty to provide written materials in other languages, while allowing other languages to provide information orally in delivering public services, comply with federal law, protect public health or safety, and protect the rights of parties and witnesses in court and administrative proceedings.

Deaf arrestees

Under Wyo. Stat. § 5-1-109(b), a deaf or mute person who is arrested may request an interpreter and cannot be required to submit to interrogation or make a statement without one unless the person waives it or the interrogation is entirely in writing.