9 Conclusion

Why does all of this information matter? Whether an interpreter should be appointed at all to assist an LEP individual is now less problematic in light of the changes to the Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure and guidance from the Louisiana Supreme Court. However, interpreters’ qualifications and their competence, and adherence to ethical norms, may require the vigilance and intervention of attorneys representing LEP clients. 

It is an attorney’s duty to be informed as to the interpreter’s qualifications and aware enough to assess the interpreter’s competence and ethical compliance once the interpretation gets underway. The information set forth here is intended to provide benchmarks to guide attorneys in framing any necessary challenges to an interpreter’s qualifications, performance in the context of competence standards, and other actions implicated by the Code of Professional Responsibility for Language Interpreters. The critical advice here is that an attorney must make any challenges in a timely manner.