Wisconsin Republicans Advancing a Bill Expanding the Role of Virtual Language Interpretation in State Courts

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 -- 9:01 AM

(Sarah Lehr, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin Republicans are advancing a bill that could expand the role of virtual language interpretation in state courts.

According to Sarah Lehr with the Wisconsin Public Radio, supporters say they hope to enable flexibility in a state with an unmet demand for qualified interpreters. But opponents worry the changes could erode the rights of victims and defendants by making it easier for miscommunication to happen.

Under Wisconsin law, people with limited English proficiency have the right to a qualified interpreter when they appear before a circuit or appellate court. Currently, those courts can only use tele-interpretation during some types of legal proceedings.

During trials, interpreters need to appear in-person. But, under a bill that cleared Wisconsin’s GOP-controlled Senate last month, interpreters could appear by telephone or videoconference even during trials.

“I think that we’re all aware of the staffing shortages and backlogs plaguing our court system, and additionally, county budgets are also feeling the pinch,” state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said during a hearing on the bill this spring.

In Wisconsin, the state partially reimburses counties for the costs of court interpreters. Although those rates of pay vary county-by-county, many local courts also reimburse interpreters for their mileage, and sometimes their driving time, before traveling to court.

Court interpreters across the state are in high demand, which in some cases, has forced judges to postpone cases while they search for a qualified interpreter. That’s especially true for interpreters in less commonly spoken languages. In 2023, courts across Wisconsin billed for more than 26,200 hours of interpretation, a 27 percent increase compared to five years prior.

“One way to help alleviate some of that pressure is to remove burdensome requirements that the state places upon our circuit courts,” said Wanggaard, who introduced the bill earlier this year.

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