Whenever any deaf person is a party to any legal proceeding of any nature, or a juror or witness therein, the court in all instances shall appoint a qualified interpreter of the deaf sign-language to interpret the proceedings to and the testimony of such deaf person. In the case of a deaf juror, the interpreter shall be available throughout the actual trial and may accompany and communicate with such juror throughout any period during which the jury is sequestered or engaged in its deliberations. Accommodations shall be made in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 so that a qualified individual with a hearing disability may participate as a party, witness, juror, or spectator in any legal proceeding. The court shall determine and allow a reasonable fee for all services provided under this Section which shall be paid out of general county funds.
8-1402.Accommodation for hearing disability.
Article VIII. Evidence · Part 14. Interpreters · Last amended 2000 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRequires courts to appoint a qualified sign-language interpreter for a deaf party, juror, or witness in any legal proceeding, with a reasonable fee paid from county funds.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/8-1402
Plain-English Summary
Whenever a deaf person takes part in a legal proceeding of any nature, as a party, juror, or witness, this section requires the court to appoint a qualified interpreter of deaf sign language to interpret the proceedings and that person's testimony. For a deaf juror, the interpreter's duty doesn't end when testimony does: the interpreter must be available through the trial and may accompany and communicate with the juror during any period of sequestration or deliberation.
The section also directs that accommodations follow the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so a qualified individual with a hearing disability can participate not just as a party, witness, or juror, but as a spectator too.
Cost is addressed directly: the court determines and allows a reasonable fee for these services, paid out of general county funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must a court appoint an interpreter for under this section?
Any deaf person who is a party to a legal proceeding, or a juror or witness in one.
Must the interpreter stay through jury deliberations?
For a deaf juror, yes — the interpreter must be available throughout the trial and may accompany and communicate with that juror during any period of sequestration or deliberation.
Does the ADA accommodation language in this section reach beyond deaf parties, jurors, and witnesses?
The mandatory sign-language interpreter appointment is tied to deaf parties, jurors, and witnesses, but the section separately calls for ADA-compliant accommodations so a qualified individual with a hearing disability can participate as a party, witness, juror, or spectator.
Who pays for the interpreter?
General county funds, in a reasonable amount the court determines and allows.
Does this section apply only at trial?
No. It applies to "any legal proceeding of any nature," not just trials.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 91-381, eff. 1-1-00.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: deaf interpreter illinois courtADA accommodation illinois courtsign language interpreter illinois trialdeaf juror illinoishearing disability accommodation court illinois