Oklahoma Code § 20-1710

Title 20. Courts: Good cause for services of registered or non-certified
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persons.
In district court proceedings, the court shall endeavor to
obtain the services of a courtroom interpreter with the highest
available level of credential prior to accepting services of an
interpreter with lesser credential and skill.  Certified courtroom
interpreters have the highest recognized level of credential in this
state, and registered courtroom interpreters have the next highest
level.  When good cause is shown and the court has determined that
it would not be practical, within a reasonable time frame, to secure
the services of an individual certified under Sections 1701 through
1710 of this title, the court may utilize the services of a
registered courtroom interpreter.  When good cause is shown and the
court has determined that it would not be practical, within a
reasonable time frame, to secure the services of a registered
courtroom interpreter, the court may utilize the services of a
provisional interpreter or other person who does not hold a
certified or registered credential.  If the Board establishes
additional levels of qualified interpreters, the court shall follow
the recognized hierarchy of credential when endeavoring to obtain
interpreter services.  For purposes of this section, "good cause"
means that due to the nature of the hearing, and time being of the
essence, the securing of a certified or registered interpreter would
not be possible due to the time, distance, or availability of a
certified or registered interpreter.  The court shall make a

specific finding as to the good cause for the emergency
circumstances.  In addition, the non-credentialed person shall have
reasonably demonstrated to the court and the parties such person's
proficiency for the purposes of that hearing.  It is also mandatory
that the proceedings are audio taped, and in the event of deaf or
hard of hearing individuals, audio and video taped.  The recording
shall be labeled and remain an official part of the record.

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