Hello. Welcome to the module on delivering ASL interpretation remotely for court events, part of a training series for ASL hearing and deaf interpreters working in the California courts. This module contains two parts. In the first part of this module, you will learn more about Video Remote Interpreting, or VRI, including why and how courts use it. In the second part of this module, we'll cover the equipment needed for VRI. We'll also provide some tips and strategies to support successful remote interpreting assignments. Let's start with what VRI is and when it might be used in court. VRI is when an interpretation is delivered remotely over a video and audio connection. This allows the individuals to meet and connect with each other even when they are in different locations. In court, VRI may be used in a number of situations. These may include when a qualified ASL interpreter is not available for an in-person interpreting assignment. Or perhaps the individual needing interpretation is unable to travel to court and needs to receive the interpretation remotely. To support the courts in using VRI for ASL interpreted events, the Judicial Council issued the Recommended Guidelines for Video Remote Interpreting for ASL Interpreted Events in 2012. These guidelines provide guidance to courts in determining whether VRI may be appropriate for ASL interpretation. While these guidelines are primarily written for the courts, they can be helpful for interpreters to understand the types of events in which VRI may be used. Per the guidelines, events that may be appropriate for VRI include events where a court-certified ASL interpreter is not available on-site, events that are less than 30 minutes in duration and not complex such as initial court conferences, status conferences, and other non-evidentiary hearings, events of an immediate nature that cannot be delayed, such as arraignments for in-custody defendants, bail reductions, and temporary restraining orders, and non-courtroom events such as self-represented litigants conducting business at a self-help center. Additionally, while VRI may be appropriate in the events listed above, the Judicial Council's guidelines also cover certain events where it may not be appropriate to use VRI for ASL including events where a court-certified ASL interpreter is available to provide on-site interpretation, events that are long or complex, events that include testimony or communications of a sensitive nature, and events involving a Deaf party who would need a certified Deaf interpreter and where no certified Deaf interpreter is available. Courts may use VRI in different ways depending on the needs of the case. This may include different configurations. Here are a few examples. The Deaf or hard-of-hearing individual is in the courtroom in person while the ASL interpreter interprets remotely. The ASL interpreter is in the courtroom and the Deaf or hard-of-hearing party participates in a court hearing remotely, appearing by video. Both the ASL interpreter and Deaf or hard-of-hearing party are appearing remotely, participating by video. Some or all of court staff, including judges and attorneys, may appear remotely as well. Courts may also use different video conferencing platforms to provide VRI. Some common platforms include Zoom, Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Teams, and Verizon BlueJeans. Each of these platforms will have slight variations. ASL interpreters should make sure to familiarize themselves with the video conferencing platform to be used and practice with it prior to a VRI assignment. However, with the proper setup, ASL interpreters will be able to provide remote interpretation in all interpreting modes—consecutive, simultaneous, and sight translation. The mode of interpretation you use may vary based on the court case needs, as well as the VRI process in place in the court. It may also depend on the video conferencing platform the court uses for remote interpreting. Zoom has a built-in simultaneous interpretation feature for ASL. The simultaneous feature allows interpreters to use a designated channel outside of the main Zoom meeting space to provide simultaneous interpretation for the Deaf or hard-of-hearing court user. However, if the court does not use this simultaneous feature, or if the video conferencing platform does not have a simultaneous channel, you will still be able to provide simultaneous interpretation as long as the setup ensures clear sight lines at all times with the Deaf or hard-of-hearing court user. Regardless of the platform, there is some equipment and technology that you as the ASL interpreter should have on your side, especially if you'll be working outside of a court setting, such as from a home office, to provide remote interpretation. First you will need a computer. It may be a desktop or a laptop to provide remote interpretation. The computer must have enough processing power to handle incoming and outgoing audio and video without freezing. It should also be powerful enough to run other applications at the same time if needed. While most newer computer models have sufficient processing power to handle VRI events, you can go to www.speedtest.net to make sure your computer has the upload and download speeds required for the video conferencing platform. Your computer should have a webcam. The webcam should be built into the computer, or it can be an external webcam. It is also important to make sure your computer monitor is large enough and that the webcam is positioned correctly, so that it will clearly show your upper torso, head, arms, hands, and fingers. You will also need to be able to see the upper torso, head, arms, hands, and fingers of the deaf or hard-of-hearing person using sign language, regardless of their body position. You will need a strong and stable internet connection to help prevent lags, choppy, blurry, or grainy images, or pixelation. A hard-wired ethernet connection is the safest option to prevent internet issues. If you need to connect using Wi-Fi, make sure you are sitting close to the router. ASL hearing interpreters will need to hear all audio clearly and should use a headset or headphones. ASL hearing interpreters will need a dedicated microphone to make sure all spoken output is loud and clear for the courts. A microphone can be built into the headset, or an external microphone such as a table mic can be used. Keep in mind, while most computers have built-in speakers and microphones, these may not produce high-quality audio. In addition to the equipment outlined here, you will need to work from a space that provides visual and auditory privacy and is free of other distractions. You should not be providing remote interpretation from a public place where others could see or hear the court event. For ASL, it's recommended that you have a solid, neutral background so that you as the interpreter are clear, visible at all times. ASL interpreters should avoid using virtual backgrounds that can blur or distort the hands or face. You need to have good lighting and be front-lit. Beware to avoid any glares on the computer screen. This will ensure that the deaf or hard-of-hearing court user can easily see you in all signed communication. You may also want to review the specific technological and equipment requirements listed in the Judicial Council's Recommended Guidelines for Video Remote Interpreting for ASL Interpreted Events. The link to this online resource has been provided in your complimentary materials. While these guidelines have been developed to assist the court with equipment set up in the courtroom to support VRI, they can be helpful to ASL interpreters as well. Now let's review some of the strategies that will support successful use of VRI for ASL interpreted events. VRI should be stopped if effective communication cannot be established or maintained. It is important for the ASL interpreter and interpreting team using VRI to continue to evaluate if effective communication is occurring throughout an event and to let the judge know if there are any technological issues or disruptions impacting effective communication. If for any reason VRI is not facilitating effective communication, any party, including the interpreter, can request that the matter be suspended and rescheduled. There are also other strategies that courts and ASL interpreters can use to best support VRI for ASL events. Prior to your interpreting event, make sure you know which video conferencing platform you will be using and download it and practice. Make sure you have all necessary links to join the remote interpreting event and that you have a contact person at the court in case you experience any technological issues. Ask the court interpreter, coordinator, or other court staff assigning you to the event for relevant case documents prior to the interpreting event. Having this information in advance will help you prepare for the type of content that may come up and it will orient you to the names that will be included in the interpreting event. If you will be working in a team with other interpreters, you should ask the court interpreter, coordinator, for any names and contact information for your team members. This will allow you to contact them ahead of time to arrange handoffs and team strategies. On the day of the remote interpreting event, plan to join your session early and make sure that your audio and video are working. When logging in, change your name on the video conferencing platform to indicate that you are the interpreter, such as Interpreter Jane Doe. You can also request that the other participants on the call include their role in their names, such as Attorney John Smith. Work with the court to ensure that a gallery view is used. If the platform supports it, you can ask the host to allow pinning and multi-pinning for all deaf participants and interpreters. Pinning will make sure that the deaf participant and the interpreter can see each other at all times during an event, regardless of who is speaking. Additionally, if the platform supports it, you can ask to have a spotlight. The spotlight feature will ensure that ASL interpreter is also pinned for all participants in a meeting and the ASL interpreter will show up in a final recording. There may be times when an attorney and deaf party will need to communicate confidentially. If the confidential communication includes a situation where the attorney and deaf party are in the courtroom and the ASL interpreter is remote, the following setup and protocols may be followed. The attorney should have an individual handset or in-the-ear communication device, not a speakerphone, to speak and listen to the interpreter during the confidential communications. The in-court monitor showing the ASL interpreter must be blocked visually from all other eyes in the courtroom to maintain confidentiality, such as by using a partition or moving the monitor showing the ASL interpreting into a private room with the attorney and deaf party. In addition, if all remote parties are visible on a shared screen in the courtroom, the host may move the deaf party and attorney into a breakout room or other virtual conference room not visible or audible on the shared courtroom screen. If the ASL interpreter, the deaf party, and the attorney are all participating remotely, the confidential communication can occur in a virtual breakout room separate from the full meeting. However, the court will need to make sure that the virtual breakout room is not visible or audible to other court participants if the court is using a shared screen that can be viewed by those in the courtroom. It is critical that prior to the start of an interpreted event, especially one conducted with VRI, all parties, judicial officers, and court staff know how to allow for confidential conferencing when needed. Finally, as mentioned earlier, you may be interpreting in a team, which may include teams of two or more hearing interpreters, as well as made up of certified deaf interpreters and hearing interpreters. Prior to beginning the remote interpreting event, you should communicate as a team to decide how you will work together, which may include determining when you will switch as the active interpreter. You may want to determine that the only active interpreter will be on camera and visible to the deaf or hard-of-hearing court user. It is helpful to also have back-channeling communication with your ASL team member so that you can share corrections and assistance with each other. If the platform has a chat feature, you may be able to use this if the court permits. However, make sure to check with the court on using the chat feature ahead of time. The chat can sometimes be a part of the court record, so you may want to choose another means of communication with your interpreting partners. Texting or using other communication platforms such as WhatsApp, video, or FaceTime can also work. Remember, issues can occur when using technology. Be prepared to join as the active interpreter if your team member experiences technical difficulties or freezes at any point. Thank you for taking the time to watch this module about considerations for delivering ASL interpretation remotely for court events. In addition to the content covered in this module, make sure to review the resources provided in the complimentary materials.

ASL interpreters

Video Remote Interpreting

California courts

Judicial Council guidelines

effective communication