Massachusetts General Laws Part III. Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases (Ch. 211-262) Ch. 221C, § 1

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

“Certified interpreter”, an interpreter who has been duly trained and certified under the direction of the coordinator of interpreter services pursuant to subsection (e) of section seven.

“Interpreter”, a person who is readily able to interpret written and spoken language simultaneously and consecutively from English to the language of the non-English speaker or from said language to English.

“Judge”, a judge or justice, or a clerk-magistrate when acting in a magisterial capacity, of a trial court department.

“Non-English speaker”, a person who cannot speak or understand, or has difficulty in speaking or understanding, the English language, because he uses only or primarily a spoken language other than English.

“Qualified interpreter”, a certified interpreter who has also passed the examination and been qualified for interpreting in the federal courts by the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts.