Legal Communication Access Services

Pause
Play

Colorado Supreme Court courtroom, featuring Justice seats

Captioners raise right hands as they swear in at Colorado Supreme Court

A group of interpreters stand in supreme court with their right hands raised as they take the sworn oath to serve in Colorado

Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) provides courtroom/legally qualified sign language interpreting and CART captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services for the Colorado State Courts and state administrative proceedings. LCAS covers all court-ordered services, including probation, mediation, and therapy/treatment.

The Colorado Judicial Branch maintains a centralized request form for ADA requests for programs and services. You can request accommodation directly using the link below. Note: This request form is for Colorado State and District courts only. For city and municipality courts, contact those courthouses directly.

Request for ADA Accommodation - Colorado Judicial Branch

Serving People with Disabilities and Title II of ADA - NCSC

This resource is from the National Center for State Courts. This PDF toolkit highlights provisions of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to help state courts ensure equal access for people with disabilities.

Find a Provider

View Current Providers

The Legal Auxiliary Services Referral Resource List is available to help people find sign language interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) providers. The list shows which providers are qualified for Court/Legal settings in addition to general community settings.

Under Colorado law, law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel must utilize this Referral Resource List to secure Court/Legal qualified providers for situations involving arrest and witness/victim interviews. See C.R.S sections 13-90-202(1), 13-90-204(1)(d) and (f); 13-90-205(3).

If you need a sign language interpreter/CART provider for a legal-related assignment, look for Status I or II vendors.

Become an Court/Legal Provider

All files are hosted in Google Drive. Please select “Download” or “Make a Copy” to obtain a version you can edit.

Legal Communication Access Services Handbook

Legal Communication Access Services Forms/Documents

Assignment Mentor/Mentee Feedback Form (PDF)

Court Observation Form: Demand Control Schema (PDF)

Court Observation Assignment (PDF)

Mentee Goals (Google Doc)

Mentee Goals–SAMPLE (Google Doc)

Mentor Application (Google Doc)

Mentorship Log (PDF)

Primary Mentor/Mentee Meeting Notes (Google Doc)

Statement of Commitment (Google Doc)

Status II Application (Google Doc)

External Forms and Documents

Attaining Colorado’s Status I, II Court and Legal Interpreter Designation Recommended Educational Guidelines for Sign Language Interpreters (PDF)

Colorado Judicial Background Check Form (Google Doc)

Colorado Judicial Department Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters (PDF)

Office of Language Access Dress Code Standards for Court Interpreters (Google Doc)

SMART Goals Information Sheet (PDF)

Legal Communication Access Services Priorities

The Legal Communication Access Services (LCAS) program was created by a state law that says what the program must do. The program must provide sign language interpreting, CART captioning (Communication Access Realtime Translation), and cued language transliteration services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people involved in state court and administrative cases. If possible, the program can fill additional requests that state law does not require.

Starting on Feb. 1, 2024, the LCAS program will focus on filling requests that are required by law. Below are some examples.

Services LCAS will cover, required by law:

Being a defendant, plaintiff, respondent, or witness to a state court case.
Being a juror in a state court case.
Being a parent or guardian of a minor appearing in state court.
Probation, mediation, or treatment ordered by a state court.
Being a party to a state-run hearing (for example, a state unemployment hearing).

Requests that are not required to be filled by the CLAS program will be filled by the Colorado Judicial Branch.

Services LCAS may cover, if practicable and resources are available:

Attorneys appearing in court, including public defenders, district attorneys, private attorneys, and others.
Employees not in witness roles. Examples are social workers, case workers, DOVE advocates, or other supporting roles.
Judicial nominating committee members.
Family members or the general public observing court proceedings from the gallery.
Self-Help Center walk-ins.
Public events hosted by the court, such as law day or school events.

Services LCAS will not cover

Court employees such as judges and other court staff. These requests will be referred to employers for accommodations.

Statutes and Rules

What is the Legal Credential Authorization?

Legal Auxiliary Services (LAS) schedules communication access services providers for the Colorado State Courts and state administrative law settings. Communication access services include sign language interpreting, live captioning services, and cued language transliteration services.

LAS is responsible for issuing a Legal Credential Authorization (LCA) to providers who qualify for court and legal settings.

In addition, LAS is required by state law to maintain a referral list of providers for the use of law enforcement and prosecutors so they can secure qualified providers.

Communication access services providers qualify for different designations depending on their certification, training, and experience.

Sign Language Interpreters

Status I: holds a current Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Specialist Certificate: Legal (SC:L) or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Court Interpreter Certification; or holds a RID Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) or BEI Intermediary Levels IV or V certification and has passed the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) written exam. CDIs also must have completed at least 65 hours of training specific to legal interpreting and 50 hours of mentoring.

Note: the SC:L certification is no longer available as of January 1, 2016.

Status II: holds a current RID or BEI certification (e.g., CDI, NIC, BEI Intermediary Levels IV or V, or BEI Advanced or Master, etc.) and completed at least 65 hours of training specific to legal interpreting and 50 hours of mentoring.

Status III: may or may not have formal training or certification but has experience with the unique communication needs of the deaf or hard-of-hearing individual. Appointed on a case-by-case basis and works under the supervision of a Status I or II Court/Legal interpreter.

Status IV: holds a current accepted RID or BEI certification. Works in non-legal settings such as court-ordered therapy or treatment, or classes.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (“CART”) Captioners

Status I: holds a Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) designation from the National Court Reporters Association; successfully completed a minimum of six hands-on assignments in the Colorado State Courts under the supervision of a current CART LCA holder; completed a LAS orientation; and passed a Colorado Judicial Department background check.

Status II: graduated from an accredited court reporting program, has a minimum rate of 98% accuracy at 225 words per minute, and has two years of general CART experience post-graduation and a minimum average of 20 hours of CART services per week for each of the most recent two years of CART work; successfully completed a minimum of six hands-on assignments in the Colorado State Courts under the supervision of a current CART LCA holder; completed a LAS orientation; and passed a Colorado Judicial Department background check.

Status IV: meets the education, skill, and experience requirements for Status II captioners but works in non-legal settings such as court-ordered therapy or treatment, or classes.

LAS Statutes