16 The Linguist Vol/65 No/3
ciol.org.uk/thelinguist
FEATURES
How is an interpreter affected when a court appoints an
intermediary to simplify the language used, asks Sue Leschen
When there are concerns that a witness or
defendant might have difficulty participating
in a hearing, the court or tribunal can appoint
an intermediary to act as a third-party
communication specialist. These professionals
aim to empower those involved to better
understand the proceedings, but they are not
appointed in every case. They are, in fact, the
new kids on the block as they were introduced
by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence
Act (1999) to facilitate communication
between vulnerable individuals and the
Criminal Justice System (CJS).
In the criminal court, judges may order
intermediaries to be present just for a
sentencing hearing, whereas family court
judges are much more likely to allow them
to attend all hearings from the Case
Management Hearings (CMHs) to the Fact
Finding and Final Hearings. Recently I
interpreted in a criminal law case where an
intermediary was appointed after an initial
CMH due to the defendant's apparent inability
to grasp what was being discussed. This
followed several conferences with his
barrister and consultations with his solicitor.
The main function of intermediaries is to
bridge gaps in communication which can
occur due to a client's sensory issues, lack of
concentration, inability to answer long
questions and other difficulties, which could
be related to learning difficulties, dementia,
autism and/or trauma. The presence of an
intermediary can also prevent escalation of
behaviours linked to anxiety, aggression and
fear. Deescalation assists not only the client
but also any professionals involved, as we are
likely to perform better with a calm client.
Intermediaries can also help professionals to
build a rapport with the client.
What is an intermediary?
In 2025, I attended the Intermediary
Cooperative's conference in Liverpool. The
cooperative is a not-for-profit organisation
A go-between in court
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