Scheduling Out-of-Court Interpreters

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The Court's Interpreter Services Section does not schedule interpreter or written translation services for CJA attorneys.

It is important to note that payment to Interpreters for CJA out-of-court services will be for actual time spent in travel to and from the location of the interpreting, any reasonable waiting time at the place of the interpreting, and interpreting services.  These fees are to be fully itemized in hours and tenths of hours.

Travel time and mileage will be compensated subject to reasonableness (ex. travel time and mileage from out-of-district to MDC to interpret are unreasonable and will not be approved).

 

Interpreting

(Effective March 1, 2026)

Hourly rates for interpreters performing CJA work are derived from the half- and full-day rates paid to contract interpreters by the court for in-court work (“Court Work”), as set by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (“AO”).  These rates vary depending on the professional qualifications of the interpreter.  Billing for CJA matters depends in part on whether both Court work and CJA work are performed on the same day, as shown below.

Interpreters may bill for reasonable round-trip travel time necessary to perform work that advances the representation of the case.

 

CJA Hourly Rate

Interpreting: Federally Certified Interpreters and Professionally Qualified Interpreters of Languages for Which No AO Certification Is Offered

*In the event the interpreter is required to travel to an in-person interview, a two-hour minimum payment ($200) will apply to the meeting time.

$100/hour

Interpreting: Professionally Qualified Interpreters of Languages for Which AO Certification Is Offered Who Are Not Federally Certified, But Who Were Previously Paid at the Federally Certified Hourly Rate by the Central District Before May 1, 2023

*In the event the interpreter is required to travel to an in-person interview, a two-hour minimum payment ($200) will apply to the meeting time.

$100/hour

Interpreting: Professionally Qualified Interpreters of Languages for Which AO Certification Is Offered Who Are Not Federally Certified

*In the event the interpreter is required to travel to an in-person interview, a two-hour minimum payment ($160) will apply to the meeting time.

$80/hour

Interpreting: Language Skilled Interpreters

$60/hour

Document Translation

$0.22 per word

Audio Translation/Transcription: Federally Certified Interpreters and Professionally Qualified Interpreters of Languages for Which No AO Certification Is Offered

*Combined translation and transcription of foreign audio recordings are typically billed by the hour, not per word or page, for non-automated services. Rates vary based on language, interpreter certification, and recording quality.

$60/hour

Audio Translation/Transcription: Professionally Qualified Interpreters of Languages for Which AO Certification Is Offered Who Are Not Federally Certified

*Combined translation and transcription of foreign audio recordings are typically billed by the hour, not per word or page, for non-automated services. Rates vary based on language, interpreter certification, and recording quality.

$50/hour

Audio Translation/Transcription: Language Skilled Interpreters

*Combined translation and transcription of foreign audio recordings are typically billed by the hour, not per word or page, for non-automated services. Rates vary based on language, interpreter certification, and recording quality

$35/hour