Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 12-2503.1: Interpreter for the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Privilege
Where this section sits in the code
- OK Code
- Title 12
A. As used in this section:
1. An "interpreter" is a qualified legal interpreter for the
deaf or hard-of-hearing, as defined by Section 2408 of Title 63 of
the Oklahoma Statutes, or a spoken language interpreter for a
Limited English Proficient (LEP) person;
2. A "deaf or hard-of-hearing person" is a person whose sense
of hearing is nonfunctional for the ordinary purposes of life;
3. A "Limited English Proficient (LEP) person" is a person who
cannot speak or easily understand English; and
4. A communication is "confidential" if made privately and not
intended for further disclosure except to other persons present in
furtherance of the purpose of the communication.
B. A person has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to
prevent an interpreter from disclosing such person's confidential
communication made while such interpreter is acting in the capacity
as an interpreter for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing or
LEP.
C. The privilege may be claimed by the interpreter, by the LEP
or deaf or hard-of-hearing person, by the guardian or conservator of
the LEP or deaf or hard-of-hearing person, or by the personal
representative of the LEP or deaf or hard-of-hearing person if the
LEP or deaf or hard-of-hearing person is deceased.
D. An interpreter who is employed to interpret, transliterate
or relay a conversation between a person who can hear and speak
English and a LEP or deaf or hard-of-hearing person is a conduit for
the conversation and may not disclose or be compelled to disclose,
through reporting or testimony, or by judicial process or subpoena,
the contents of a confidential communication.
E. There is no privilege pursuant to this section for
communications:
1. If the services of the interpreter were sought or obtained
to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit what the LEP or
deaf or hard-of-hearing person knew, or reasonably should have
known, to be a crime or fraud or physical injury to the LEP or deaf
or hard-of-hearing person or another individual;
2. In which the LEP or deaf or hard-of-hearing person has
expressed an intent to engage in conduct likely to result in
imminent death or serious bodily injury to the LEP or deaf or hard-
of-hearing person or another individual;
3. Relevant to an issue in a proceeding challenging the
competency of the interpreter;
4. Relevant to a breach of duty by the interpreter; or
5. That are subject to a duty to disclose under statutory law.
Collected 2026-09-14T18:32:36Z. Source file · JSON