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Office of Interpreter Services (OIS)
From Afghani to Zulu, Superior Court's Office of Interpreter Services (OIS) obtains interpreters for more than 160 different languages to assist non-English speakers with court matters. OIS has offices in all three of Superior Court's primary facilities.
****INTERPRETATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST FOR ALL COURT EVENTS****
516 3rd Avenue
Room C-701
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 477-1415
Email: scinterp@kingcounty.gov
401 N. 4th Avenue
Room G0243
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (206) 477-1415
Email: scinterp@kingcounty.gov
1211 E. Alder Street
Room 225
Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 477-1415
Email: scinterp@kingcounty.gov
THE OFFICE OF INTERPRETER SERVICES REQUIRES 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY PROCESS INTERPRETER REQUESTS.
Click HERE to request an interpreter.
Interpreters assist litigants during attorney-client consultations and arraignments, hearings, trials, and other court events. They also interpret for deaf jurors, classes for parents and truant youth, and appointments with court personnel.
In most cases, OIS does not assist with child abuse and neglect cases. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families coordinates interpreter services for these cases.
For more information on securing interpreters for trials and other court matters, please read this Court Operations Memorandum.
OIS provides orientation for interpreters and education for judges, attorneys, and court personnel about procedures for obtaining and utilizing interpreters. The program has been cited as a national model and clearinghouse for interpreter-related information.
In accordance with state law, OIS strives to provide only court-certified interpreters in the following languages:
- Arabic (Egyptian)
- Arabic (Levantine)
- Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian
- Cantonese
- French
- Korean
- Laotian
- Mandarin
- Marshallese
- Punjabi
- Russian
- Spanish
- Tagalog
- Vietnamese
OIS carefully screens interpreters in all other languages, or when no court-certified interpreter is available.
- General Rule 11.1 - Purpose and Scope of Interpreter Commission
- General Rule 11.2 - Code of Conduct for Court Interpreters
- General Rule 11.3 - Telephonic Interpretation
- RCW 2.42 - Interpreters in Legal Proceedings
- RCW 2.43 - Interpreters for Non-English Speaking Persons
- Washington AOC - Certified Court Interpreters Webpage
- Read the Interpreter Services Fact Sheet.
- Read Superior Court's Language Assistance Plan.
- Learn about the Interpreter Services Office from King County TV (YouTube video).
- See Interpreter Information for ITA Court
OIS provides orientation sessions for interpreters as well as training for those who use interpreters, including judges, attorneys, and people working in other court-related programs.