New interpreter rules go into effect July 1.

Effective July 1, in criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings language interpreters must be appointed for parents or legal guardians of the juvenile defendant and any victims or alleged victims, in addition to the defendant, if any cannot speak English or have a limited understanding of English.

The Supreme Court on May 31, adopted an amendment to Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.560 adding that requirement.

The court also amended Rule 2.565 to provide when an attorney or self-represented litigant retains an interpreter, that interpreter must, if possible, be certified, language skilled, or provisionally approved as defined in the Rules for Certification and Regulation of Spoken Language Court Interpreters, with preference given to certified and language skilled interpreters.

That change is also effective July 1.

The court also said it will create a workgroup to advise the court on the need for and the feasibility of establishing a pilot program, and to suggest parameters and participants, before the court considers requiring the making and retaining...