Interpreted Testimony Law and Legal Definition

Interpreted testimony refers to testimony which is translated because the witness cannot communicate in the language of the tribunal. The record should reflect that an interpreter was used and both the interpreter and the witness was placed under oath. A trained interpreter will know to use the first person when interpreting a witness's testimony; that is, s/he is interpreting and repeating back the words exactly as they are conveyed to him/her. When receiving an answer, s/he should answer in the first person as if he were the witness speaking the words. If the interpreter doesn't do this and uses the third person instead, it needs to transcribe that as words from the interpreter.

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Court Interpreters Act (28 USCS §§ 1827, 1828) all provide for appointment of interpreters in appropriate cases. USCS Fed Rules Evid R 604 states that an intUSCS Fed Rules Evid R 604erpreter is subject to the provisions of the Evidence Rules relating to qualification as an expert. If the interpreter's skill in language is helpful to the Judge and jury, and the interpreter has expertise in translating the relevant languages, then the interpreter qualifies as an expert. An interpreter willing to take an oath or affirmation to make a true translation can assist the Court and jury in the trial process.