The Clerk’s Office may determine whether a customer has limited English proficiency.
Identification of language needs at the earliest point of contact is highly recommended. The need
for an interpreter may be identified by the LEP person or on the LEP person’s behalf by Clerk’s
Office staff, counter staff, self-help center staff, family court services, or outside justice partners
such as the court, probation and parole officers, attorneys, social workers and correctional
facilities. When an interpreter need is identified and Clerk’s Office staff become aware that the
LEP person has a pending court case, Clerk’s Office staff are instructed to attach an interpreter
flag to the person in the iCIS case management system.

Signage throughout court buildings indicating interpreter services are available may also help to
identify LEP individuals. The Superior Court of Maricopa County will display this sign at
locations to be determined by the Court.

Court Interpreter Registry and Listserv

Arizona’s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) maintains a statewide roster of individuals
who indicate they have interpreting experience and have expressed interest in working in the
courts. This roster is available to the Clerk’s Office on the Internet at
http://www.interpreters.courts.az.gov.

Additionally, the AOC created a statewide listserv to allow courts to communicate via email on
court interpreter-related matters. The listserv is an excellent resource to locate referrals for
specific language needs. Access codes and instructions to join the listserv may be obtained from
the AOC Language Access contact person.

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

The AOC has installed video conferencing equipment at the State Courts building that will allow
courts with compatible technology to remotely conference an interpreter from the Phoenix metro
area or from another court jurisdiction into their court to improve resource allocation and reduce
time and costs associated with interpreter travel. Contact the AOC Language Access contact
person for more information on VRI connectivity and checklist for court proceedings most
appropriate for video.

The Clerk’s Office is responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that LEP individuals have
meaningful access to all Clerk’s Office services and programs. Contracts with vendors that
provide direct services to Clerk’s Office customers must include the requirement that the vendor
provide language services, including interpreters, for all LEP individuals. 

Assistance to Understand Court Procedures and Policies 

Services offered by the Clerk’s Office generally to English-speaking customers pursuant to the Employee Code of Conduct (ACJA §1-303) must also be provided to LEP litigants in their language. 

Assistance to Fill-out Court Forms and Pleadings

The Clerk’s Office will assist in the filling-out of court forms for those LEP customers who are
unable to do so either by themselves or with the assistance of another competent adult proficient
in English and able to render assistance in a timely manner.

The Clerk’s Office uses the following resources to facilitate communication with LEP
individuals and Clerk’s Office staff to the degree resources are available:

• Bilingual employees;
• “I Speak” cards, to identify the individual’s primary language;
• Multilingual signage provided by the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County or the AOC;
• Telephonic interpreter services from Language Line;
• Automated translation of the Clerk’s Office website into a user-selected language;
• Spanish language versions of court forms;
• A website link from the Clerk’s Office website to the AOC’s Spanish-translated webpage;
• A public phone line with key instructions provided in Spanish to request Clerk’s Office services; and
• Video remote interpreting services (where available)

The Arizona courts understand the importance of translating forms and documents so that LEP
individuals have greater access to the courts’ services. The Clerk’s Office currently uses forms
and instructional materials translated into Spanish.

These documents are located on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Spanish-translated webpage at http://www.azcourts.gov/elcentrodeautoservicio.