Rule 183.Interpreters
Last amended September 1, 1990 · Last verified June 28, 2026
Full Text of Rule 183
Notes and Comments
Comment to 1990 change: To adopt procedures for the appointment and compensation of interpreters. Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 43(f). The provision regarding summoning interpreters and their conduct is deleted because it is covered by Rule 604, Texas Rules of Civil Evidence.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 183 gives the court the power to appoint an interpreter it selects and to fix a reasonable fee for the work. The fee may be paid from funds provided by law or by one or more of the parties as the court directs, and the court may ultimately tax it as costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for a court interpreter under Rule 183?
The fee may come from funds provided by law or from one or more parties as the court directs, and the court may tax it as costs in its discretion.
Can the parties choose the interpreter used in a Texas case?
No. Rule 183 gives the court, not the parties, the power to appoint an interpreter of its own selection.
Where does Rule 183 come from?
It was adopted effective September 1, 1990, drawing on then-Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(f). Texas left the summoning and conduct of interpreters to Rule 604 of the Texas Rules of Civil Evidence rather than repeat it here.