Section 12-21-131 states: 

…(c) In any case in law or equity before any court or the grand jury, wherein any deaf person is a party to such action, either as a complainant, 
defendant, or witness, the court shall appoint a qualified interpreter to interpret the proceedings to the deaf person and interpret his testimony or 
statements and to assist in preparation with counsel. 

…(e) In the event a person who is deaf is arrested and taken into custody for any alleged violation of a criminal law of this state, the arresting 
officer and his superiors shall procure a qualified interpreter in order to properly interrogate such deaf person and to interpret such person’s 
statements.  No statement taken from such deaf person before an interpreter is present may be admissible in court. 

…(f) Every deaf person whose appearance before a proceeding entitles him to an interpreter should notify the appointing authority of his need 
prior to any appearance and should request at such time the services of an interpreter; provided that where a deaf person reasonably expects the 
need for an interpreter to be for a period greater than a single day he should notify the appointing authority and such notification shall be sufficient 
for the duration of his participation in the proceedings. 

…(j) An interpreter appointed under the provisions of this section shall be entitled to a reasonable fee for such services.  The fee shall be in 
accordance with standards established by the Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, in addition to actual expenses for travel and 
transportation.  When the interpreter is appointed by a court, the fee and expenses shall be paid out of the General Fund from “Court Costs Not 
Otherwise Provided.”  When the interpreter is otherwise appointed, the fee shall be paid out of funds available to the appointing authority. 

A “qualified interpreter” is an interpreter who is certified by the National Registry of Interpreters for the 
Deaf.  For courtroom interpretation, effort should be taken to obtain the services of a qualified interpreter 
who holds specialist certification in the legal field (SC:L).   

Specialist Certificate: Legal 
Sharon Spencer (SC:L)   
sharonzspencer@yahoo.com 
205-789-3433 

aurel Standley, PhD (SC:L) 

lstandley@me.com 
321-750-9274 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

  L

     

The Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI) is a nationally certified interpreter who is deaf or hard of hearing. In addition to proficient communication 
skills and general interpreter training, the CDI has specialized training and/or experience in the use of gesture, mime, props, drawings and other 
tools to enhance communication. 

f no specialist certified interpreter is available, effort should be made to procure an otherwise qualified certified interpreter listed below. 

therwise Qualified Interpreters (*indicate interpreters who have limited availability to interpret due to full-time employment elsewhere) 

Dee Johnston  
Johnston.dee@live.com 
256-493-4447 
Jill Moran 
jillakesigner@yahoo.com 
205-275-0564 
Sophia Stringer Nelson 
Sophiasn1@yahoo.com 
251-709-1740 
Jody Polzin 
jlpolz@aol.com 
205-616-3822 
Frances Smallwood 
deafaccess@mchsi.com 
256-603-3242 
Patricia Smartt 
Smartt1@juno.com 
205-672-8068 
*Charlene Crump 
Charlene.crump@mh.alabama.gov 
334-353-4703 
*Susan Gordon 
susangordon@tmail.com 
205-887-5800 
*Belinda Montgomery 

 
 

 
 

 

 

ertified Deaf Interpreter  

Judith Gilliam (CDI) 
judithmgilliam@gmail.com 
(256) 474-0502 

 

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Lisa Barrick 
lisa.barrick@gmail.com 
205-413-9988 
Lin Fulton 
interplinc@charter.net 
205-999-3108 
Lisa Gould 
Gould.lisa@aidb.state.al.us 
251-432-7777 
Sue Graham 
Msueg13@charter.net 
205-527-8427 
Rosemary Guy 
Guy.rosemary@aidb.state.al.us 
256-761-3370 
Nancy Hayes 
njhayes@bellsouth.net 
205-902-8855 
Jodie Jernigan 
jolabga@aol.com 
334-221-2751 
*Wendy Darling 
Wc.darling@yahoo.com 
334-462-8873 
*Brian McKenny 

mebebe@gmail.com 
334-221-9950 
 

 

brianmckterp@gmail.com