Legal Auxiliary Services (LAS) provides courtroom/legally qualified sign language interpreting and Communication Access Realtime Translation (“CART”) services for the Colorado State Courts and state administrative proceedings. LAS 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
Legal Auxiliary Services Program Update - 2024
The Legal Auxiliary Services (LAS) program was created by a state law that says what the program is required to do. The program must provide sign language interpreting, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioning, and cued language transliteration services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind people who are involved in state court and administrative cases. If possible, the program is allowed to fill additional requests that state law does not require.
Starting on Feb. 1, 2024, the LAS program will focus on filling requests that are required by law. Below are some examples.
Services LAS 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, state unemployment hearing).
Requests that are not required to be filled by the LAS program will be filled by the Colorado Judicial Branch.
Services LAS 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 LAS will not cover
Court employees such as judges and other court staff. These requests will be referred to employers for accommodations.
Find a Provider
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 LAS Provider
All files are hosted in Google Drive. Please select “Download” or “Make a Copy” to obtain a version you can edit.
Legal Auxiliary Services Handbook
- Legal Auxiliary Services Forms/Documents
Assignment Mentor/Mentee Feedback Form
Court Observation Form: Demand Control Schema
- External Forms and Documents
Colorado Judicial Background Check Form
Colorado Judicial Department Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters
Office of Language Access Dress Code Standards for Court Interpreters
- Information for LAS Independent Contractors
LAS Fee Schedules
Court and legal settings
Non-legal settingsColorado Judicial Department materials
Colorado Judicial Department Code of Professional Responsibility for Court Interpreters
Chief Justice Directive 06-03 (“Directive Concerning Language Interpreters and Access to the Courts by Persons with Limited English Proficiency”)
Office of Language Access’s Dress Code Standards for Court InterpretersColorado State holiday schedules
- Resources on Legal Interpreting
Legal Terminology in ASL (from National Consortium of Interpreter Education Centers)
Jury Interpreting Preparation Sheet
National Consortium of Interpreter Education (NCIEC) materials
Best Practices – ASL and English Interpretation Within Legal Settings
- Becoming an independent contractor with LAS
If you would like to become a freelance interpreter/independent contractor with LAS, please complete and submit the following paperwork to las.ccdhhdb@state.co.us
CCDHHDB data sheet for independent contractors
LAS Master 2018 Release of Information (background check form)
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form (for direct deposit of payments)
Colorado Secretary of state website (for business/trade names)
Statutes and Rules
- What is the Legal Credential Authorization?
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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
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LAS Statutes
- LAS Rules
Program Contact
Legal Auxiliary Services Program
Trish Leakey, Auxiliary Services Program Manager