Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Language Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advocates urge court to extend free interpretation to civil cases, calling it essential to due process
Summary
Legal aid and immigrant‑rights advocates urged the Michigan Supreme Court to adopt proposed amendments to MCR 1.111 to eliminate interpreter fees in civil cases, arguing fees deter meaningful participation and that interpretation is a service to the court, not solely the litigant.
Advocates from Michigan Legal Help and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center urged the court to expand free foreign‑language interpretation to civil proceedings under ADM 2025‑03.
Kim Cramer of Michigan Legal Help told the court that eliminating interpreter fees in civil cases would advance meaningful participation and fairness. “Meaningful participation in our courts can’t be conditioned on a litigant’s ability to pay for language access,” Cramer said, noting civil matters frequently involve homelessness, child‑custody and financial liability.
Elizabeth Santana of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center emphasized due‑process concerns and described administrative and practical burdens imposed on limited‑English‑proficiency litigants when courts bill for interpretation after hearings. She said the majority of U.S. states now provide free civil interpretation and that Michigan should follow suit to ensure consistent language access plans across courts.
Speakers argued that interpreter costs are a cost of administering justice because accurate fact‑finding and enforceable orders depend on a reliable record. The court took public comment and offered the opportunity for questions.
