A. After July 1, 1986, if a non-English speaking person who is a principal party in interest or a witness has requested an interpreter, the appointing authority shall appoint, after consultation with the non-English speaking person or his attorney, an interpreter certified pursuant to the Court Interpreters Act to interpret or to translate the proceedings to him and to interpret or translate his testimony. The appointing authority shall select the interpreter from the current list of certified interpreters provided by the administrative office of the courts, except as provided in Subsection B of this section.

B. The appointing authority may appoint an interpreter pursuant to Subsection A of this section who is not certified but who is otherwise competent only when the appointing authority has made diligent efforts to obtain a certified interpreter and has found none to be reasonably available in the judicial district.

C. The appointing authority shall reimburse the interpreter at a fixed rate according to a current approved fee schedule established by the administrative office of the courts.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any court from employing a certified interpreter on a full-time basis or under contract at a mutually agreed upon compensation rate.

History: Laws 1985, ch. 209, § 3.

Cross references. — For the duties of the administrative office of courts, see 34-9-3 NMSA 1978.

Right to interpreter. — Statutory and constitutional provisions do not mandate the appointment of an interpreter to assist respondents to translate documents or interpret discussions taking place outside of court. State ex rel. CYFD v. William M., 2007-NMCA-055, 141 N.M. 765, 161 P.3d 262.