North Carolina’s courts are violating the rights of people who speak little or no English by failing to provide free interpreters in civil cases, according to a federal complaint.

Charlotte’s Latin American Coalition, Muslim American Society and Vietnamese Society have joined together to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and stop what they say is discrimination in the N.C. courts.

Although the state provides interpreters for indigent defendants in criminal cases, advocates say limited-English speakers are routinely subjected to civil court proceedings they don’t understand.

A 2009 study by New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice found that nearly half of the 35 states examined did not require that interpreters be provided in all civil cases.

Interpreters not only assist litigants who struggle with English, they also ensure attorneys and judges understand the litigant and can be confident their instructions are being understood.

The N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts spends about $2.4 million for 207 interpreters speaking 60 different languages. Their services are offered to indigent defendants in criminal cases and some domestic violence cases.

Despite last year’s federal opinion, state court officials say they believe current services comply with federal law and offer meaningful access to the courts for those with limited English proficiency.

See: The Sun News

Also see: examiner.com