Rule 7.080 Interpreters’ Requests for Information

Here's what this rule means for people going to court in Oregon.

If your case needs a court interpreter, that interpreter can ask you and the other party to give them a list of special or technical words that might come up during the hearing or trial. For example, if your case involves medical terms, construction terms, or industry-specific language, the interpreter wants to know ahead of time so they can translate accurately. You need to provide this list before the proceeding starts, not during it.

This rule exists to help interpreters do their job well. Court cases can involve unfamiliar or technical words, and interpreters need time to prepare so they can translate correctly in the moment. Giving them a heads up helps avoid mistakes or delays during the actual hearing.

The rule also protects your privacy. Once you give the interpreter this list of terms, they must keep it private. Nobody else, including the other side in your case, can demand to see it or use it as evidence. It's just a tool to help the interpreter prepare, not information that becomes part of the public case record.