Courts: translators.

Existing law authorizes the clerk of the court, in a county with a population of 900,000 or more, to employ as many foreign language interpreters as are necessary to interpret in criminal and juvenile cases, and to translate documents intended for filing in any civil or criminal action or proceeding or for recordation in the county recorder's office, as specified. Existing law authorizes an interpreter so employed to collect from the litigants a specified fee for his or her services, and to deposit the fee into the county treasury. This bill would recast these provisions to authorize the clerk of the court to employ as many foreign language interpreters as may be necessary to interpret cases in the superior court, and to translate documents as specified. The bill would require the clerk of the court to assign interpreters when needed to interpret in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases in the superior court, and in civil cases if an assignment can be made without causing the court to be unable to perform its obligations in criminal proceedings. The bill would delete the authorization for the collection of a fee.