The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the resolution of a case involving the Louisiana Supreme Court (LASC) over the latter’s efforts to improve access to its proceedings and operations for those with limited English proficiency (LEP). In May 2019, the DOJ and LASC had entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address a complaint under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color and national origin by any recipients of federal financial assistance, including state courts.
Since the MOA was signed, LASC has taken several steps to improve access for court users across Louisiana who are LEP. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said “Courts across our country must ensure that the courthouse door is open to all, including people with limited English proficiency”. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana added “My office is committed to addressing all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against persons who are LEP.”
The LASC has established an Office of Language Access and adopted the first Language Access Plan for Louisiana courts. A centralized language access complaint system with an online complaint form in several non-English languages was also created, and training programs on language access, a judicial bench card focusing on access to court interpreters, and other language access resources were developed for court staff. Additionally, LASC successfully advocated for a change to a state law that had allowed courts to charge people with LEP for the cost of an interpreter and then adopted new court rules based on that change in state law.