Johnson County District Courts

DISTRICT COURT RESPONSE TO COVID-19

  • Home
  • Clerk's Office
    • Records Request
      • Fillable Form
    • Transcripts
    • Civil
      • Filing Fees
      • Limited Actions
      • Small Claims
        • Small Claims Brochure
        • Fillable Forms
      • Mechanic's Liens
      • Satisfaction of Judgment
    • Marriage License
      • Marriage License Information
      • Ceremony & Copies
      • Who Can Perform Weddings
    • Criminal
      • Court Costs
      • Bad Checks
      • Domestic Violence
    • Juvenile
    • Probate
    • Traffic
  • Self-Help Center
    • Divorce with Children
    • Divorce with no Children
    • Annulment with Children
    • Annulment with no Children
    • Separation with Children
    • Separation with no Children
    • Expungment
    • Parentage
    • Enforce Separation or Divorce
    • Child Support/Reimbursement
    • Parenting Time/Plan
    • Parenting Plan and Child Support
    • Rehearing or Appeal
    • Notice of Hearing
    • Miscellaneous
    • Name Change
    • Protection Orders
    • Quiet Title
  • On-Line Payments
  • Jury Duty Info
  • About the Court
    • Attorney Appointments
      • Appointment Fee Schedule
      • Order Appointing Counsel - Misdemeanor Case
    • Case Filing Statistics
    • Career Opportunities
    • --%>
    • Domestic Violence Grant Application
    • Interpreters
    • Veterans Treatment Court
  • Court Services
  • Local Rules
    • Overview
    • Administrative Orders
    • General
    • Civil
    • Appendices
    • Criminal
    • Juvenile
    • Probate
    • Surities
    • Traffic
  • Judges
  • Law Library
  • Career Opportunities
  • Links
COURT INTERPRETERS

Interpreters fulfill a critical role within our court system. Court-provided interpreters ensure that all litigants are afforded their constitutional rights of due process and equal protection under the law regardless of their ability to hear, understand or speak the English language. Additionally, interpreters enable court proceedings to function in an effective and efficient manner.

Our Commitment

The Johnson County District Court is committed to ensuring meaningful language access for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. A qualified interpreter can be provided during all court proceedings for parties, witnesses, victims and parents or legal guardians of a juvenile who is subject to a court proceeding.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Johnson County District Court is committed to ensuring effective communication for deaf individuals who participate in court proceedings by providing auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters. Participants may include parties, witnesses, jurors, spectators, victims, attorneys and parents or legal guardians of a juvenile who is subject to a court proceeding.

Additionally, interpreting services can be provided for LEP and deaf individuals outside the courtroom for activities or services that are operated or managed by the Court. Some examples include the Clerk’s Office, Self Help Center and the Johnson County Court Services Office (probation, domestic mediation, programs and classes).

The Court does not provide interpreting services for activities or services obtained through a private provider. This may include court-ordered classes, assessments, interviews, drug screens, and treatment or therapy sessions.

Right to an Interpreter

Pursuant to Kansas law, a qualified interpreter shall be appointed in many instances for persons whose primary language is one other than English, or who is deaf or hard of hearing. K.S.A. 75-4351

Although the United States Constitution does not explicitly guarantee the right to an interpreter, the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments have traditionally formed the foundation for asserting a defendant’s right to an interpreter.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Actof 1964 requires agencies receiving federal funds to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access for Limited English proficient (LEP) persons.

Title II of the American Disabilities Act (ADA) requires local and state courts to provide qualified sign language interpreters to ensure effective communication with deaf and hard of hearing individuals.




Last Minute Requests:

All reasonable efforts will be made to schedule an interpreter for last-minute requests. But to ensure that a qualified interpreter will be available please provide as much notice as possible. It is a not only a strain on financial resources to accommodate last-minute requests, but emergency requests may delay the judicial process.

Attorney-Client Conferences:

In criminal cases, an interpreter can be provided for defendants to be able to effectively communicate with their attorneys outside of court free of charge only if the attorney has been court-appointed.

Protection Orders:

If you wish to apply for a Protection from Abuse order or a Protection from Stalking Order and you need an interpreter please contact the Victim Assistance Unit in the District Attorney’s Office at 913- 715-3004 and an interpreter can be provided free of charge to assist you with the process.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How do I request an interpreter?
  You may use the online scheduler or send an email to:  
  For a foreign language interpreter: [email protected]
  For a sign language interpreter: [email protected]  
   
   
Can my bilingual friend or family member interpret for me in court?
  No. This constitutes a perceived conflict of interest. It is important that the interpreter be impartial and not have any interest in the outcome of the case.
   
My attorney is bilingual. Do I still need an interpreter in court?
Yes.This constitutes a perceived conflict of interest. It is important that the interpreter be impartial and have no apparent interest in the outcome of the case. Also, an attorney can’t simultaneously interpret the proceedings while also representing you in court.
 
 
   
If you have further information regarding court interpreters please contact  
  Office of Court Administration
   913-715-3300  
 

Johnson County District Court
150 W. Santa Fe St,
Olathe, Kansas  66061
  Court Hours and Contact
Office Hours: M-F 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Phone: (913) 715-3300
Home | Phone Directory | Map & Directions
Hours & Holidays | ADA Information