Maryland Interpreter Request in a Criminal Case is a request that must be made when a non-English speaking defendant or witness is involved in a criminal case in the state of Maryland. This request is made to ensure that the defendant or witness can understand the proceedings in their language of choice. The Maryland Rules of Procedure dictate the requirements and procedures for requesting an interpreter, and the Maryland Judiciary provides a list of approved interpreters. There are two types of Maryland Interpreter Requests in a Criminal Case: one for defendants and one for witnesses. The defendant’s interpreter request must be made by the defendant, or a legal representative, to the court at least two weeks prior to the hearing date. The witness’s interpreter request must be made by the prosecutor or defense counsel to the court at least one week prior to the hearing date. Both requests must include the language requested, the type of interpreting services needed and the anticipated length of the interpreting services.