Legal Interpreting

Court Programs and Services Need Language Access

Mr. Martinez is scheduled to appear in court. When he arrives at the courthouse, he asks the receptionist, “Hello, I go court?” She points to some security guards next to an X-ray machine. The very nervous and somewhat confused man approaches them and says, “Hello, I go court?” They gesture for him to clear his […]

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What is required for state courts to provide proper language access?

Federally funded state courts are required to provide language services to all people, regardless of the language they speak or their English proficiency. Failure to provide access can interfere with the capacity of state courts to accurately evaluate the facts and fairly administer justice. Below is a list of six essential steps every state must

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When and Why Do I Need to Contract Interpreting Services

To err is human, to forgive is divine.  That saying is apropos in many facets of life.  Many individuals (with no formal training in teaching foreign languages) mistakenly overestimate not only their ability but also the ability of others to intelligibly and fluently speak another language.  There are people who understand English very well, but

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Why do Court Interpreters Need this Information?

Trials are expensive. A good number of lawyers love them. Some attorneys hate them. Many persons have vowed to have their day in court, and that day usually involves a trial. Disagreements are why trials exist. When individuals cannot agree or are at an impasse, this formal examination is brought before a competent court of

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Court Interpreters Serve All Parties

I am fortunate that it has been many years since I received a traffic citation for a moving violation.  After all, no one wants to visit traffic court, much less suffer the consequences, like fines and increased automobile insurance. When I was a child, I used to watch a show titled Let’s Make a Deal. 

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Interpretation, a promising career choice

If you are bilingual, I’m sure you have had the emotional experience of helping someone needing to communicate. Not long ago, my youngest daughter excitedly approached me and shared, “Daddy, I did my first interpretation job!” My daughter was pulled out of class to interpret for a Spanish-speaking woman at the school reception area. She

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Guess who passed the federal court interpreter certification written examination?

Do you have any idea what the federal court interpreter certification examination is? According to the Administrative Office of United States Courts, “the use of competent federal court interpreters in proceedings involving speakers of languages other than English is critical to ensure that justice is carried out fairly for defendants and other stakeholders.” For that

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How can you ensure your legal interpreter is skilled?

First and foremost, there is no room for mistakes for interpreters in a legal proceeding. A mistake with just one word can be detrimental to a person’s life, liberty, and future, resulting in a grave injustice. The nuances of language in a court case demand complete familiarity with legal terminology and fluency in the languages

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Court Interpreter Role Playing

While recently visiting the court to watch my wife and partner Emily interpret, I stepped outside to retrieve something from the car and mentioned to one of the officers that Emily is my wife. The officer became so excited and was happy to meet me. [spacer height=”20px”]   She enthusiastically said to me, “I love

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When a Court Interpreter Must Disclose a Potential Conflict of Interest

Recently, a Spanish-speaking friend of mine with limited English proficiency asked me to accompany him to court for a hearing.  Don’t worry, I didn’t interpret. No ethical principles were broken. I was there simply to provide moral support to my friend.   As it turned out, my wife Emily, a South Carolina certified court interpreter,

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