The parties must advise the presiding administrative law judge promptly if a translator or an interpreter will be needed at the hearing. Parties may provide their own translator or interpreter or may request provision of a translator or an interpreter by the Department of Labor. See Executive Order 13166, 65 Fed. Reg. 50121 (Aug. 16, 2000) (meaningful access to court services for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP)); 29 C.F.R. § 33.11 (appropriate auxiliary aids where necessary to afford an individual with handicaps an equal opportunity to participate in a hearing).
Parties needing assistance with translation or interpretation services must inform the presiding administrative law judge no less than 15 days before the date of the hearing.
Additional Information
- www.lep.gov (Federal Interagency Website on Limited English Proficiency (LEP))
- Promising Practices for Language Access in Federal Administrative Hearings and Proceedings - A Report from the September 22, 2011 Workshop (ACUS Feb. 3, 2012)
- Executive Order 13166 — Improving Access to Services for Persons With Limited English Proficiency (Aug. 16, 2000)
- Memo to Federal Agencies from Attorney General Eric Holder Reaffirming the Mandates of Executive Order 13166 (Attorney General Eric Holder Feb. 17, 2011)
- Language Access Guidance Letter to State Courts (Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez Aug. 17, 2010)
- Questions and Answers Regarding the April 16, 2010 Title VI Language Access Guidance Letter to State Courts
- Spanish Resources at the U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Labor's LEP Plan (2011)
- OALJ Court Information and Answers to Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs) in Spanish [Información de la Corte y Respuestas a las Preguntas Frecuentes]