OCA CIRCULAR NO. 104-2007, October 18, 2007

For the information and guidance of all concerned, quoted
hereunder is Memorandum Order No. 59-2004 dated September 10, 2004 in
“Re; Authorizing the Court Administrator to Act on and Approve Requests of Lower Courts for the Hiring of Sign Language Interpreters:

“WHEREAS, some cases before trial courts may -. involve parties
or require witnesses who, to be fully understood and prevent possible
miscarriage of justice, may require a sign language interpreter, and

WHEREAS, in such cases, the trial judge has to request the
Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator, to hire
the services of a sign language interpreter. The Court Administrator
would, thereafter, recommend to the Court the hiring of the sign
language interpreter. The procedure may cause delays.

WHEREFORE, in the interest of the service, the Court
Administrator is hereby authorized to act on and grant requests of trial
court judges to hire the services of a sign language inteipreters in actions or proceedings where such services would be rendered.

The Court Administrator may fix the fee of the sign language
interpreter on a per day or per appearance basis, and such expenditure/s
shall be chargeable against the savings in appropriations for the Lower
Courts.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect upon its issuance.”

In connection herewith, the following guidelines are hereby issued
for the payment of service/s rendered by a hired sign language
interpreter.

In connection herewith, the following guidelines are hereby issued
for the payment of service/s rendered by a hired sign language
interpreter:

1. Upon recommendation of the Presiding Judge and after
confirmation/approval of the Court Administrator, the designated sign
language interpreter shall render the services required.

2. For payment of the services rendered, the designated sign
language interpreter shall submit the following documents to the Finance
Division, FMOOCA:

a) Confirmation/approval by the Court Administrator of the designation as sign language interpreter;

b) Certificate of appearance issued by the Branch Clerk of Court or Officer-In-Charge;

c) Certified copy of the minutes of the hearing.

3. For cases to be heard within the NCJR, the designated sign
language interpreter shall be entitled to a fee to be fixed by the Court
Administrator in a per day or per appearance basis.

4. For cases to be heard outside the NCJR, the sign language
interpreter shall likewise be entitled to an additional expense
allowance, and traveling’ and * transportation allowance subject to the
guidelines set forth under SC Administrative Circular No. 15-2005 dated
March 22, 2005, if the sign language interpreter shall come from the
NCJR. However, where there is an available’sign language interpreter
outside the NCJR, they shall only be entitled to the fee fixed by the
Court Administrator.

The amount specified for the purpose shall be chargeable against
the savings in appropriations for the lower courts, subject to the
compliance of item No. 2 hereof.

Ocotober___18__,2007.