Abstract
This study is the first to investigate the prevalence and variety of legal contexts where ASL-English interpreters work in the United States. Effective interpreting service ensures that deaf individuals’ civic and constitutional rights are protected when they engage in the U.S. legal system. It sought to understand the current landscape of legal interpreting practice by ASL-English interpreters to better inform professional training and allocation of resources. There is a severe, national shortage of legally qualified sign language interpreters and a need for regular educational pathways and professional development to train generalist interpreters in specialized legal settings. An online survey was distributed to sign language interpreters who work in the United States and its territories. Family, juvenile, and traffic-related settings were common among the type of courts and cases where interpreters reportedly work. In the courtroom, the introductory procedures were the most commonly encountered. Outside of the courtroom, the most frequent procedures were court-oriented programs, attorney-client conferences, and plea bargaining. The qualification profile of practitioners indicates that legal specialized training was significantly more prevalent in lieu of or in addition to the suspended national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf specialist legal certification. Findings indicate that a significant proportion of legal interpreting work is done outside of the trial setting, thus educational opportunities and training resources need to address the range of legal settings to best prepare interpreters for professional assignments.
Suggested Citation
Lawrence, Lynsey H. and Whynot, Lori
(2026)
"Sign Language Interpreting in Legal Settings: A Survey of the Field,"
Journal of Interpretation: Vol. 34:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/joi/vol34/iss1/3
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