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State Courts

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The Civil Rights Division, through the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section (FCS), works to ensure equal access to the courts, regardless of English proficiency, and to safeguard the integrity and fairness of the legal system for all. FCS has worked with state courts and stakeholders in a variety of ways so that individuals with limited English proficiency can meaningfully participate in court proceedings, navigate/maneuver through the court system, and access court services. As a result, many state court systems around the country have created policies and plans that have significantly improved the provision of language assistance services in their courts.

On August 22, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a permanent injunction, available at https://perma.cc/24VN-QS9Y, enjoining the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) from imposing or enforcing its disparate impact requirements under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d (“Title VI”) in the state of Louisiana.  Specifically, DOJ is enjoined from “enforcing the Title VI disparate-impact requirements contained in 40 C.F.R. § 7.35(b), (c) and 28 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2) against any entity in the State of Louisiana, or requiring compliance with those requirements as a condition of past, existing, or future awards of financial assistance to any entity in the State of Louisiana.”  DOJ is fully complying with the court’s order.  Unless continued litigation results in changes to the court's order, DOJ will not impose or enforce its Title VI disparate impact requirements in Louisiana. 

All DOJ guidance documents, including those here, are valid and apply to Louisiana except to the extent they explain legal obligations arising under the DOJ or EPA Title VI disparate impact regulatory provisions. All recipients of DOJ financial assistance (including those in the state of Louisiana) have a continuing obligation to comply with Title VI, which prohibits discrimination against or otherwise excluding individuals on the basis of race, color, or national origin, all other Title VI implementing regulations, and all grant terms and conditions.  Recipients must continue to comply with all other applicable nondiscrimination laws and their corresponding implementing regulations.

Remarks of the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Celebrating Progress In Language Access Services in the Courts - October 26, 2023

Language Access in State Courts

Letter to State Courts Addresses Language Assistance Services - April 20, 2023

Civil Rights Division Communication to State Courts Regarding Language Access - August 2010, Republished in 2018

Providing Language Access in the Courts: Working Together to Ensure Justice Event - February 28, 2014:

Working with State Courts to Remove Language Barriers to Justice - June 15, 2012

DOJ Work by State

 

Arizona- 2015

Department of Justice and Mohave County, Arizona Superior Court Work to Ensure Language Access for Limited English Proficient Court Users

 

California- 2020

Investigation Closure Letter to the California Judicial Council - November 12, 2020Letter and Agreement of Resolution: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - September 20, 2016

Department of Justice Observations and Recommendations Letter to the Judicial Council of California and the Los Angeles County Superior Court - May 22, 2013California Judicial Council adopts Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts - January 22, 2015

 

Colorado- 2016, 2021, and 2024

Colorado Office of Administrative Courts, an Office of the Colorado Office of Personnel and Administration  

Colorado Judicial Department

 

Florida- 2021

Justice Department Obtains Settlement in Title VI Retaliation Matter with the Florida State Courts System

 

Georgia- 2024

Department of Justice Sends Letter to Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts Reminding Them Of Their Title VI Obligations - February 29, 2024 

Hawai'i- 2015

Department of Justice and Hawai'i State Court System Work Collaboratively to Ensure Equal Access for All Limited English Proficient Individuals in Hawai'i Courts

 

Kentucky- 2016

Letter of Resolution: Kentucky Administrative Office of the Court - June 22, 2016, Press Release (English) (Español)

Louisiana- 2023

Justice Department Resolves Language Access Matter Concerning Louisiana Supreme Court - January 19, 2023

Language Access Plan in Louisiana Courts, Approved by the Supreme Court - September 1, 2020

Memorandum of Agreement Between the United States of America and the Louisiana Supreme Court- May 13, 2019

 

Maine- 2008

State of Maine Judicial Branch, Language Access Plan - January 1, 2023-December 31, 2024

 

Michigan-2013

Acting Assistant Attorney General and U.S. Attorneys for Michigan send letter to Michigan Supreme Court addressing Rule 1.111, Foreign Language Interpreters - September 17, 2013

New Jersey- 2014 and 2024

Justice Department Reaches Agreement with the New Jersey Judiciary to Resolve Language Access and Retaliation Investigation- August 15, 2024

Department of Justice and New Jersey Judiciary Work Collaboratively to Ensure the Provision of Language Assistance Services in New Jersey Courts

 

New York- 2024

Justice Department Enters Agreement with the New York State Unified Court System to Resolve Title VI Language Access Review- June 11, 2024

North Carolina- 2022

Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts - October 25, 2022

Department of Justice Letter and Report of Findings to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts - March 8, 2012

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Expansion of Language Access Services to All Superior Court Proceedings and Updated Standards for Language Access Services - June 30, 2017

North Carolina Court System Develops Language Access Complaint Poster - January 24, 2014* (*Attribution to the NCAOC must be clear and visible on any and all of your materials and products in whatever format they exist.  Attribution should be substantially similar to the following: “The North Carolina court forms included in this publication are created by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, which office has given permission for the use of these forms in this publication.”).

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Notice of Expansion of Interpreter Services to All Cases Heard Before Magistrates - April 30, 2015

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Notice of Expansion of Language Access Services to All Child Custody and Child Support Proceedings - September 25, 2013 

North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Notice of Expansion and Enhancement of Foreign Language Interpreting Services - August 8, 2012

Oklahoma- 2023

Justice Department Enters Into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Oklahoma Courts to Resolve Title VI Investigation- August 31, 2023

 

Pennsylvania- 2020

Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania - April 24, 2017

Rhode Island- 2016

Justice Department Closes Case After Rhode Island Judiciary Reforms Provide Equal Access for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency

South Dakota- 2022

Justice Department Closes Review after the South Dakota Unified Judicial System Improves Access for People with Limited English Proficiency - August 11, 2022

Statewide Language Access Plan - February 11, 2022U.S. Department of Justice Resolves Civil Rights Review of South Dakota Unified Judicial System - October 5, 2021

 

Tennessee- 2012

U.S. Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement with the Juvenile Courts of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee - December 17, 2012

Texas- 2021 and 2023

U.S. Department of Justice Announces Final Resolution of Language Access Civil Rights Matter in Fort Bend County, Texas- August 2, 2023

U.S. Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement with Fort Bend County, Texas - June  28, 2021Press Releases 

 

Vermont- 2021

Technical Assistance Completion Letter to Vermont Judiciary – August 10, 2021Collaborative Technical Assistance Agreement for the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section and the Vermont Judiciary - June 19, 2019

Washington State- 2017

Justice Department and Washington State Courts Partner to Ensure Access to State Court Services for Limited English Proficient Individuals - July 18, 2017

The King County Superior Court Signs a Letter of Resolution with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington State and the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section - December 1, 2015The King County Superior Court Agrees to Work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington State and the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section to Improve Access to Court Interpreters - January 21, 2014

Wisconsin- 2018

Justice Department and Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, Circuit Court Partner to Ensure Equal Access for Limited English Proficient Court Users in Court Operated Class

Resources for Courts

General

National Center for State Courts (NCSC)

 

From State Courts

New Mexico Judiciary: New Mexico Center for Language Access 

Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Translation Policy and Procedures Manual- January 2021

Judicial Council of California, Translation Protocol, July 2016

Mediating Through Interpreters: Providing Equal Access to Participants Who are Limited English Proficient, New Jersey Judiciary - July, 2008

Guidelines for Determination of Eligibility for Court-Appointed Interpretation and Translation Services, Supreme Judicial Court, State of Maine - October 11, 2006

Legal Glossaries in Arabic, Armenian, Hmong, Mien, Mong, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese, Superior Court of California, Sacramento County Courts