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Court Interpreter Services

Court Interpreter Program

The Court Interpreter Program supports the Wyoming Judicial Branch’s commitment to providing equitable access to legal proceedings for individuals who are non-English speakers, possess limited English proficiency, or are deaf or hard of hearing.

Upcoming Orientation

The next court interpreter orientation will be held virtually on April 13th and 14th, 2026. For more information, please email interpreters@courts.state.wy.us.

Court Interpreter Resources

The code of ethics serves as a foundational framework, outlining essential principles to guide the conduct of court interpreters, judges, and court administrators.

The Wyoming Judicial Branch uses a tiered system to acknowledge interpreter qualifications, emphasizing preferences for court usage.

Professionally Certified Interpreter – Wyoming
To obtain this designation, an interpreter must:

Attend the two-day (2) Wyoming interpreter orientation, with a minimum of 80% overall attendance and full participation in the Wyoming-specific component.
Submit the Wyoming Interpreter Service Provider Interest Form.
Pass the Wyoming interpreter written exam with a score of 80% or higher. Scores below 80% require retaking the orientation.
Provide proof of certification from a recognized program and inclusion on a jurisdiction-maintained interpreter roster, or demonstrate equivalent credentials as approved by the Court Interpreter Program Manager.
Take the Wyoming Spoken Language Interpreter Oath.

Registered Interpreter – Wyoming
This designation is available to interpreters who meet the criteria for Professional Certification and demonstrate additional oral proficiency.

Requirements include:

Completion of all Professional Certification requirements listed above.
Pass the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) with an Advanced-Mid score or higher. If unsuccessful, they may retake it after ninety (90) days and must achieve the required score within one (1) year of orientation.
Take the Wyoming Spoken Language Interpreter Oath.

The Wyoming Judicial Branch uses a tiered system to acknowledge interpreter qualifications, emphasizing preferences for court usage.

Professionally Certified Sign Language Interpreter – Wyoming
To receive this designation, an interpreter must:

Attend the 2-day Wyoming interpreter orientation (minimum 80% overall attendance, 100% for the Wyoming-specific component).
Submit the Wyoming Interpreter Service Provider Interest Form.
Pass the Wyoming interpreter written exam (80% or higher). A lower score requires retaking the orientation.
Provide proof of at least one of the following Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) credentials: SC:L, NIC, NIC-A, NICM, CI, CT, NAD V, and/or CDI, or an equivalent credential approved by the Statewide ADA Coordinator.
Take the Wyoming Sign Language Interpreter Oath.

Registered Sign Language Interpreter – Wyoming
To receive this designation, an interpreter must:

Meet all requirements for Professional Certification.
Hold at least one of the following RID credentials: NAD III, NAD IV, or an equivalent credential approved by the Statewide ADA Coordinator.

Spoken and Sign Language Interpreter Policies

ADA Services

Spoken Language Interpreter Policy

The Wyoming Judicial Branch, in alignment with the Wyoming Judicial Council, is dedicated to safeguarding the rights, both constitutional and otherwise, of individuals who, due to a non-English-speaking cultural background or limited English proficiency, encounter difficulties in understanding or effectively communicating in the English language.

Spoken Language Interpreter Policy

Spoken Language Interpreter Payment

Sign Language Interpreter Policy

The Wyoming Judicial Branch, in collaboration with the Wyoming Judicial Council, is committed to preserving the constitutional and other rights of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and encounter challenges in understanding or effectively communicating with the courts. The sign language policy adheres to the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Wyoming Judicial Branch ADA Public Access Policy.

Sign Language Interpreter Policy

Sign Language Interpreter Payment

Court Interpreter Rosters are lists of qualified interpreters who are available to provide language services during court proceedings. These rosters are maintained by court systems to ensure that individuals who do not speak English can access the justice system.

Wyoming Court Interpreter Roster

The Spoken Language Interpreter Policy and the Sign Language Interpreter Policy introduce a tiered system to acknowledge interpreter qualifications, emphasizing preferences for court usage. The Wyoming Judicial Branch has instituted an application form and orientation course, mandatory for all court interpreters aspiring to be included in the interpreter rosters. The roster procedure will be as follows:

Wyoming Supreme Court Interpreter Roster

Certified Interpreters

Certified interpreters, currently holding certification in another jurisdiction, are required to complete the application form, undergo a mandatory orientation program, and submit evidence of their credentials. After thorough verification and determination of equivalency, they will be officially added to the interpreter roster as a certified court interpreter.

Registered Interpreters

Registered interpreters, those without certification in another jurisdiction, must undergo a comprehensive process. This includes completing the application form, participating in a mandatory orientation course encompassing a written test on legal terminology, interpreting skills, and interpreter ethics, and concluding with an oral proficiency interview featuring an acceptable rating. Upon successful completion of these requirements, the interpreter will be officially added to the interpreter roster as a registered court interpreter. Registered interpreters who can provide documented proof of successfully passing a court interpreter written test and an Oral Proficiency Interview in another state may be eligible for certain waivers regarding these two components of the process. The eligibility for waivers will be determined based on the equivalency of the documented qualifications.

Un-registered Interpreters

Un-rostered interpreters, may still be qualified by the local court when rostered interpreters are not available.

Court Resources

Some situations may result in securing interpreter services from other states. The following rosters for interpreters may be used in those circumstances:

Colorado
Spanish Roster (PDF)
Languages other than Spanish Roster (PDF)

Idaho
Roster (Website)

Nebraska
Roster (Website)

Utah
Roster (Website)

What do court interpreters do?

Experienced court interpreters proficiently employ three modes of interpretation—sight translation, simultaneous interpreting, and consecutive interpreting—to ensure effective communication between source and target languages within the context of judicial proceedings. It is imperative for interpreters to faithfully convey every aspect of the spoken message, refraining from any addition, omission, alteration, or summarization. Furthermore, interpreters are tasked with maintaining the appropriate level of formality or informality (register) consistent with the original speech.

What knowledge, skills, and abilities should a court interpreter possess?

Court interpreting stands as a sophisticated and exacting profession that transcends mere bilingualism. A court interpreter must exhibit elevated proficiency in both English and the non-English language, comparable to that of an educated native speaker. Beyond linguistic prowess, interpreters require specialized cognitive and motor skills, a profound comprehension of court procedure, fundamental justice system concepts, and terminology. Additionally, interpreters must adhere to the ethical and professional responsibilities integral to their role in the judiciary. The essential competencies of a court interpreter span various areas:

Linguistic skills;
Articulate speaking skills;
Acute listening comprehension;
Proficient reading comprehension;
Interpretation skills, encompassing the retention, understanding, and
recreation of messages; and
Apt behavioral skills.

How frequently does the Wyoming Judicial Branch conduct court interpreter orientation sessions throughout the year?

The Wyoming Judicial Branch organizes Court Interpreter Orientation sessions twice a year through Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

How do I register for a Wyoming Judicial Branch court interpreter orientation session?

Please complete and submit the Wyoming Interpreter Service Provider Interest Form either by mail to the Court Interpreter Program Manager at 2301 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82002, or via email to interpreters@courts.state.wy.us.

Who do I contact to find out more about the Court Interpreter Program?

If you have additional questions after reviewing the Wyoming Court Interpreter Program, please contact interpreters@courts.state.wy.us.

Contact Information

Amy Klein-Wingate
Senior Court Services Coordinator
2301 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: 307.757.4271 | Email: interpreters@courts.state.wy.us

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