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Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Tit. XI, Art. 401.1. Court instructions for interpreter

Current as of January 01, 2023 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

A. When a person with a hearing loss is among the petit jury venire, the court shall:

(1) Provide an interpreter for the deaf prospective juror. The interpreter shall be sworn in as an officer of the court.

(2) Permit the interpreter to be present and assist a deaf prospective juror during voir dire.

B. When a deaf or hard of hearing person is summoned for jury duty, the court shall:

(1) Provide an interpreter for the deaf juror. The interpreter shall be sworn in as an officer of the court.

(2) Instruct the interpreter, in the presence of the jury, to:

(a) Make true, literal, and complete translations of all testimony and other relevant colloquy to the deaf juror during the deliberations of the jury.

(b) Refrain from participating in any manner in the deliberations of the jury.

(c) Refrain from having any communications, oral or visual, with any member of the jury regarding the deliberations of the jury except for literal translations of jurors' remarks made during deliberations.

(3) Permit the interpreter to be present and assist a deaf juror during the deliberations of the jury.

(4) Give a special instruction to the interpreter not to disclose any portion of the deliberations with any person following a verdict.

(5) Direct all costs relating to the interpreting services provided, including summoning, voir dire process, and empaneling of a juror in all trials, to be paid by the clerk of court's office through the juror and witness fee account.

C. The verdict of the jury shall be valid notwithstanding the presence of the interpreter during deliberations.

D. All costs relating to the interpreting services provided in this Article shall be paid by the clerk of court's office through the juror and witness fee account.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Tit. XI, Art. 401.1. Court instructions for interpreter - last updated January 01, 2023 | https://codes.findlaw.com/la/code-of-criminal-procedure/la-code-crim-proc-tit-xi-art-401-1/

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