Accessibility

Reasonable accommodation may be requested through motion or orally to the judge hearing the case. The judge presiding over the proceedings may also become aware of the need for such services. If deemed necessary, the court may issue an order requesting accommodation to the executive director of the judicial region corresponding to the case so the necessary arrangements can be made.

Reasonable accommodations may also be requested to a marshal, at the Office of the Clerk of the Court, or to any other court support staff who is assisting you.

Yes. Public Law No. 101-336 of 1990, as amended, known as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Law No. 51 of May 29, 1970, as amended, known as the Service Animals for People with Disabilities Act, authorize those with functional diversity who require service animals to be accompanied by them in all areas of the courthouse that are accessible to the public, whether they be program participants or visitors.

A service animal is a dog that has been trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a person with functional diversity, including physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or any other type of diversity.

Language interpreters may be requested and used in any court proceeding or administrative matter when deemed necessary and authorized by a judge or the executive director. They may be requested and used in the following court proceedings:

Criminal cases by:

• the defendant, regardless of their financial status or the stage of the proceedings
• witnesses for the defense when the defendant is indigent, in accordance with the criteria established by the Rules for the Appointment of Counsel in Puerto Rico

Cases involving minors by:

• a minor who has been charged under Law No. 88 of July 9, 1986, as amended, known as the Puerto Rico Minors’ Act
• the parties to a case under Law No. 246 of 2011, as amended, known as the Child Safety, Well-being, and Protection Act, whether for the child concerned or for the respondent (the person against whom a protection order has been filed )

Civil cases by:

• the parties to a case involving a protection order for domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, child abuse or neglect, and child protection services, among others
• the parties to cases that involve basic human needs, as provided in the Rules for the Appointment of Counsel in Puerto Rico and related regulations approved by the Office of Court Administration, such as matters regarding housing, child support, health, safety, and the rights of parents over their minor children, among others

The main difference is in the scope of assistance they can provide. A facilitator is a Judicial Branch employee who has training or is proficient in another language and can provide general guidance on administrative matters to those who are not fluent in Spanish. However, they may not serve or be sworn in as an interpreter in a judicial proceeding.

The Judicial Branch has a Registry of Language Interpreters who can provide language interpreting services.

In exceptional cases, an individual present at the hearing may be sworn in by the judge as a language interpreter under the following conditions:

• when the case is being heard in an emergency situation or a walk-in case
• when the individual demonstrates proficiency in the two languages required to serve as an interpreter
• when the individual has no interest in the case
• when none of the persons listed in the Registry of Language Interpreters is available

Similarly, if a person requests their own interpreter and that person is available, the judge may authorize this if the circumstances of the case warrant it. If authorized, any party wishing to use their own interpreter will assume the corresponding costs.

Anyone who wishes to appear in the Registry of Language Interpreters must:

• be 21 years of age or older
• fill out the Application for Enrollment in the Judicial Branch Registry of Language Interpreters (OAT 1393)
• submit the corresponding documents:
• Certificate of completion of formal interpreting courses at accredited universities or specialized institutions
• Certificate that demonstrates passing the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination
• Reliable proof or certification showing that the individual works as an interpreter even though they have no formal education in the field
• Reliable proof or a sworn statement showing that the person’s command of Spanish or other languages enables them to serve as an interpreter, even though they have no formal training in the field of interpretation and do not work providing such services

The filing of an application to appear in the Registry of Language Interpreters may not necessarily mean that the person will be included in said Registry. Likewise, an individual’s inclusion in the Registry does not imply the judge will automatically acceptance their services in a court proceeding.

The main difference is in the scope of assistance they can provide. A facilitator is an employee of the Judicial Branch who has training or proficiency in sign language or lip reading and who can provide general guidance on administrative matters to persons who are deaf or have a condition that prevents them from communicating effectively. However, they may not serve or be sworn in as interpreters for judicial proceedings.

Sign language and lip-reading interpreting services are provided by a company contracted by the Judicial Branch. However, if a person requests their own interpreter and that person is available, the judge may authorize it if the circumstances of the case warrant it. If authorized, any party wishing to use their own interpreter will assume the corresponding costs.

Once the reasonable accommodation has been authorized, the court, at its discretion and upon request, will adopt the necessary measures so that the hearings and other court proceedings may be recorded. These recordings will preserve a visual record of the proceedings to ensure its integrity where the court has authorized reasonable accommodations. These recordings will be part of the court record.

Individuals with hearing loss experience difficulty understanding speech, particularly when the speaker is far away, when the space has poor acoustics, or if the environment is very noisy. In these situations, assistive technology devices, such as sound amplifiers, can be used to boost the volume of voices and improve the quality of sounds the individual wants to hear. Anyone with hearing loss can benefit from these or similar devices.

Every judicial region has two types of sound amplifiers available: personal sound amplifiers and frequency modulation (FM) sound amplifiers.

These devices help individuals with hearing loss who experience difficulty understanding speech, particularly when the speaker is far away, when the space has poor acoustics, or when the environment is very noisy. In these situations, sound amplifier systems can be used to boost the volume of voices and improve the quality of sound the individual wants to hear.