Art. 25.1 Appointment of interpreter

If someone involved in a criminal case doesn't speak English well, or if they are deaf, the court must provide them with an interpreter. This applies whether the person is a party in the case (like the defendant) or just a witness testifying. The court follows the standards set by the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Code of Evidence to decide when someone qualifies for this help and what kind of interpreter they need.

The person who needs an interpreter does not have to pay for it themselves. The court covers this cost using money from its own court fund. This means language barriers or hearing loss won't stop someone from understanding what's happening in their case or from being able to communicate clearly in court.