Breaking Free, Being Heard: A Domestic Violence Survivor’s Right to an Interpreter in Georgia Courts
May 2013 The Family Law Review: a publication of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia (Spring 2013)
Domestic violence survivors who have limited English proficiency (LEP) have a right to an interpreter in temporary protective order (TPO) cases under the family violence act. LEP petitioners and respondents have a statutory right to a free court-appointed foreign language interpreters when necessary. Likewise, hearing impaired litigants and witnesses also have a specific statutory right to an interpreter and parties in all types of cases who cannot afford an interpreter have a right to equal access to the courts under Title VI, which can include a court provided interpreter.
