Summary
Disability Rights Wisconsin opposes a new proposed bill that would expand the role of remote language interpretation to trials and other legal proceedings. Remote interpretation could lead to communication problems and technical difficulties that can make the legal system harder for clients to navigate. Wisconsin Public Radio interviews Nadya Rosen, a DRW attorney, about what this bill could mean for clients with disabilities.
A new bill that would change remote language interpretation in courts has passed the Wisconsin Senate. The bill would let interpreters appear by telephone or videoconference in more types of legal proceedings, including trials.
Right now, interpreters must appear in person for trials. The process to get an in-person interpreter can take a lot of time. This can be because of staffing shortages or if the clients need interpretation in a less-common language.
Disability Rights Wisconsin opposes this bill. Remote language interpretation could lead to mistakes in communication and technical difficulties that can make trials harder for clients to navigate. Wisconsin Public Radio interviewed Nadya Rosen, an attorney at our agency, about the effects of the bill. She says: “You don’t want to be perceived as being a problem, and so having to assert your need for interpretation and quality interpretation can be just another barrier for people who need to be able to effectively communicate.”
Read more about other concerns Disability Rights Wisconsin and other advocacy organizations had about this bill in Wisconsin Public Radio:
“Wisconsin bill would allow court interpreters to work remotely during trials” by Sarah Lehr via Wisconsin Public Radio