Opinion Number

Dear Judge Robinson:

This office is in receipt of your request for an opinion of the Attorney General in regard to the doctrine of the "separation of powers". You ask if the legislative requirement of R.S. 46:2364 requiring a court to pay for an interpreter for a hearing impaired person violates the separation of powers doctrine without providing the funds for the cost, and if not, which court funds should be used.

R.S. 46:2364 provides in pertinent part as follows:

A. Whenever a hearing-impaired person is a party or witness at any stage involving direct communication with hearing-impaired…