Court & Hearings

If you have trouble speaking or understanding English, or if you are Deaf, Deafblind, or hard of hearing, you may have the right to a free interpreter at your court case or hearing. When the parties in a case present their sides of a case to a judge or other officer

In Illinois, every circuit court The lowest level of court in Illinois must provide a qualified or certified interpreter at no cost in civil and criminal proceedings when one is needed.

Interpreters help you understand what is happening in court and help the judge, lawyers, and others understand you during your hearing. They may not be able to help with private conversations or paperwork outside the courtroom.

Courts provide qualified or certified interpreters for people who:

• Speak little or no English (called limited English proficiency or LEP)
• Are Deaf, Deafblind, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities.

The court may provide an interpreter in person, by phone, or by video.