(a) (1) The court shall appoint a qualified interpreter to help a defendant in a criminal proceeding throughout any criminal proceeding when the defendant: (i) is deaf; or (ii) cannot readily understand or communicate the English language and cannot understand a charge made against the defendant or help present the defense. (2) On application of a victim or victim’s representative, as defined in § 11–104(a) of this article, the court shall appoint a qualified interpreter to help the victim or the victim’s representative throughout any criminal proceeding when the victim or the victim’s representative: (i) is deaf; or (ii) cannot readily understand or communicate the English language. (b) The court shall give an interpreter appointed under this section: (1) compensation for services in an amount equal to that provided for interpreters of languages other than English; and (2) reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of services.
Maryland Legal Code