Disability Access
Oklahoma Courts Agree to Settlement with DOJ over Civil Rights Investigation
OKLAHOMA CITY OK – In a shocking turn of events, the Oklahoma Courts have agreed to settle with the DOJ over a civil rights investigation into allegations of disability access.
According to sources, the investigation was launched after a complaint was filed alleging that the Mayes County District Court failed to provide significant access to a person with limited English proficiency in a family court case.
The DOJ took swift action, putting the investigation on hold after the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) made significant changes to provide equal access to all court users with limited English proficiency. These changes included providing free interpretation services to the complainant, hiring a language access coordinator, and proposing legislation that became state law.
The new law eliminates interpreter fees charged to parties with limited English proficiency and authorizes the creation of a state fund to finance court translation and interpretation services.
“People should not be penalized for their limited English proficiency and should not find it difficult to obtain the linguistic assistance they need to participate fairly in judicial proceedings,” said Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This agreement sets a model for ensuring access to the courts for all people, regardless of their English proficiency, and outlines the steps necessary to eliminate barriers for court users with limited English proficiency in Oklahoma.”
Clinton J. Johnson, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, added, “With the new state law and the Memorandum of Understanding, Oklahoma has demonstrated its commitment to improving access to justice in our state. We are committed to working with our state courts to ensure compliance with Title VI and related civil rights laws.”
Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the AOC will provide oral and written linguistic assistance in all civil and criminal proceedings and in court operations at no cost to individuals with limited English proficiency, develop a state-level language access plan, and add translations of vital documents. The AOC will also improve its case management system to better track linguistic needs, develop a language access complaint process, create and distribute a translated interpretation services notice for the courts, and create and publish a video orientation on remote interpretation for court staff.
“This is a significant step forward in ensuring that all Oklahomans have access to the courts, regardless of their language proficiency,” said Clarke. “We look forward to working with the AOC to implement these changes and ensure that all court users receive the linguistic assistance they need.”
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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