Criminal Defense of Immigrants

(A)  Federal Procedure.  Under Rule 604 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, “An interpreter is subject to the provisions of these rules relating to qualification as an expert and the administration of an oath or affirmation to make a true translation.”[175] The trial court is under an inherent duty to satisfy itself of the competency of the interpreter.[176]

[175] Fed. R. Evid. 604; see United States v. Miller, 806 F.2d 223, 224 n. l (10th Cir. 1986).

[176] See United States v. Kramer, 741 F. Supp. 893, 894 (S.D. Fla. 1990).