Legal Requirements for Language Access

Treating people fairly and impartially is a cornerstone of the judicial system. The Supreme Court of Ohio is committed to ensuring equal justice to all who come before the court including individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have limited English proficiency.

The Supreme Court recognizes the obligation to provide language assistance services where these services protect an individual’s rights. Because any point of contact with the legal system can have serious consequences, courts must make every effort to ensure that language services are provided for deaf, hard of hearing and limited English proficient individuals during all hearings, trials, motions and court functions.

To assist courts in the state of Ohio meet its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, other statutory requirements, and Superintendence Rule 88, the Supreme Court offers the following resources:

Ohio Revised Code
Ohio Rules of Evidence 604 and 702
Superintendence Rules 80-89
Code of Professional Conduct for Court Interpreters and Translators
Standards for the Use of Telephonic Interpretation

Language Services

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