Starting with a short historical survey, this paper demonstrates, on the basis of some demographic data, the past and future need for court interpreters in Austria’s courts of law. The legal situation, covering the non-German speaking party’s right to interpretation as well as the rights and duties of the interpreters themselves, serves as the background for an analysis of the interpreter’s role in the courtroom setting. Examples taken from recordings of courtroom situations demonstrate how the legal provisions are put into practice in the actual courtroom. They allow for a first examination of the actual performance of court interpreters in Austria and a comparison of their performance as defined by law.