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Complaint Process for Court Language Access Issues

We invite you to join the OJD to explore opportunities for engagement and partnership, and to call upon our office as a resource. If anyone feels they were denied appropriate language access to Oregon Judicial Department Services, we want to hear about it right away. If you have a complaint, please fill out the online complaint form. We will contact you to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
 
The Oregon Judicial Department is dedicated to providing meaningful access to court programs and services for limited English proficient court users.
  
The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) has adopted a procedure providing for prompt review of complaints or concerns alleging violations of law or problems concerning language access services.  The following information and complaint forms are also available in English, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese languages.  Interpretation of the complaint process and complaint form can be provided for other languages.
 

Notice of Federal Law

Section 602 of Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d states that “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
 

OJD Internal Procedures

  1. Persons claiming discrimination by the Oregon Judicial Department or its employees on the basis of the denial of appropriate language access services must file a complaint as soon as possible, but no later than 45 calendar days after the claimed violation.  The complaint must
    1. be filed in writing, dated, and signed by the individual alleging discrimination or that individual’s authorized representative;
    2. contain the name, address, telephone number, and email of the individual (and representative, if used) filing it;
      describe briefly, but with sufficient detail, the circumstances of the alleged violation; and
      indicate the date, place, and nature of the incident, including the names, if known, of any official or employee involved, and the names of any persons witnessing the event.
  2. Persons claiming discrimination must file a complaint with OJD Court Language Access Services via the following:
    •  Form: online complaint form
       Email: court.interpreter.program@ojd.state.or.us
       Mail:
      Court Language Access Services
      ATTN:Program Manager
      Oregon Judicial Department
      1163 State Street
      Salem, OR 97301
       Fax: 503.961.7636

      Court Language Access Services shall refer complaints filed against the Court Language Access Services Program staff or manager to the State Court Administrator’s designee, who will ensure an impartial review of the matter.

      Anonymous complaints or complaints not provided in writing will not be investigated.
  3. All complainants will be notified in writing by the OJD Court Language Access Services of the receipt of the complaint within 10 business days.
  4. An investigation, as may be appropriate, shall follow a filing of a complaint.  The informal process provides the person and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit information or evidence relevant to the complaint. 
  5. The Oregon Judicial Department will forward a copy of the written decisions as to the validity of the complaint and any resolutions, to the persons claiming discrimination no later than 45 calendar days after filing the complaint. 
  6. Court Language Access Services shall maintain the files and records relating to complaints for a period of three years. 

Request Reconsideration

  1.  Persons claiming discrimination may request reconsideration in instances where he or she is dissatisfied with the written decisions or resolutions.  The request for reconsideration should be made within 45 calendar days of issuance of the written decisions or resolutions and must be filed in writing with:
    •  Mail:
      State Court Administrator
      Supreme Court Building
      1163 State Street
      Salem, OR 97301-2563
       Phone:  503.986.5500
      Oregon Relay Service – 711
       Fax:  503.961.7636
  2. The Office of the State Court Administrator will notify all persons of the receipt of the request for reconsideration of the complaint.
  3. The State Court Administrator will forward a copy of the written response to the request for reconsideration to the person claiming discrimination no later than 45 calendar days after its receipt. 
  4. The Office of the State Court Administrator shall maintain the files and records relating to any request for reconsideration for a period of three years. 
Use of the Judicial Department grievance procedures in no way impairs persons claiming discrimination to search for other remedies under Title VI such as filing a complaint with the responsible federal department, agency, or court. 
 
Copies of this posting or alternative formats are available on request.

Contact Information

  •  Mail: 
    Office of the State Court Administrator 
    Oregon Judicial Department
    Court Language Access Services 
    1163 State Street
    Salem, OR 97301-2563
  •  Phone: 503.986.4545
  •  Fax:  503.961.7636