Sixteen court-qualified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters and real-time captioners were sworn in during a special ceremony at the Colorado Supreme Court on Feb. 24. Justice Monica M. Márquez presided over the ceremony, which will allow interpreters and captioners to provide services in future court proceedings without having to be sworn in each time.

“Access to justice is essential to achieve the commission’s goal of a barrier free Colorado. Each of you makes this happen when you provide effective communication access,” said lead ASL/English interpreter Christine Pendley from the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind. “The Colorado Judicial Branch needs skilled interpreters and captioners such as yourselves to ensure that deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind residents have access to justice in our state. Judges, judicial staff, attorneys, managing court interpreters and others rely on the unique skills and expertise you possess to meet communication needs.”

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