Interpreter Program
Policies and Procedures
PROCEDURES STATE CERTIFICATION MODES OF INTERPRETING
THE INTERPRETERS JOB CODE OF ETHICS SELECTION AND REIMBURSEMENT
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The District Court Administrator's (DCA) Office will provide a list of qualified interpreters to each of the participating counties in the district. This will include all courts in each county (Superior, Probate, Juvenile...). |
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The DCA's Office will provide a list of policies and procedures, which will be followed in normal circumstances. |
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Each county will locate and pay the interpreter. |
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Interpreters are expected to dress professionally and arrive promptly. |
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Interpreters may never accept gifts or tokens from non- English speaking clients. |
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Errors must be reported as soon as possible. |
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Case information must be kept confidential at all times. |
If you need information on state certification please contact Cristina Franco, Program Director, State Commission on Interpreters, Administrative Office of the Court at (404) 463-6478 or francoc@gaaoc.us
Tests have three parts:
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Sight translation of documents (approx. 225 words)
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Consecutive interpretation (approx. 806 works)
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Simultaneous interpretation of an attorney's opening or closing argument to the jury (approx. 865 words).
| Simultaneous Interpretation: the interpreter speaks as the same time as the speaker. Used when the interpreter is seated at the counsel table assisting a non-English speaking party. This is considered the most accurate method. |
| Consecutive Interpretation: the interpreter listens and speaks after the speaker has completed a thought. Used when interpreting at the witness stand. |
| Sight Translation: the interpreter reads and translates a written document orally in court. |
| Summary Interpretation: the interpreter summarizes the statements of the speaker. Summary interpretation should never be used in a court setting. |
To render everything said in court in the source language, into the target language
| Accurately, without any distortion of meaning |
| Without omission |
| Without additions |
| Without any changes in style or *register |
| With as little delay or interference in the routine pace of court proceedings as possible. |
*Register=the level of the language
| Accuracy and Completeness- Interpreters shall render a complete and accurate interpretation or sight translation, without altering, omitting or adding anything to what is stated or written, and without explanation. |
| Representation of Qualifications- Interpreters shall accurately and completely represent their certifications, training and pertinent experience. |
| Impartiality and avoidance of conflict of interests- Interpreters shall be impartial and unbiased and shall refrain from conduct that may give an appearance of bias. Interpreters shall disclose any real or perceived conflict of interest. |
| Professional demeanor- Interpreters shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the dignity of the court and shall be as unobtrusive as possible. |
| Confidentiality- Interpreters shall protect the confidentiality of all privileged and other confidential information. |
| Restriction of public comment- Interpreters shall not publicly discuss, report, or offer an opinion concerning a matter in which they are or have been engaged, even when that information is not privileged or required by law to be confidential. |
| Scope of practice- Interpreters shall limit themselves to interpreting or translating and shall not give legal advice, express personal opinions to individuals for whom they are interpreting, or engage in any other activities which may be construed to constitute a service other than interpreting or translating while serving as an interpreter . |
| Assessing and reporting impediments to performance- Interpreters shall assess at all times their ability to deliver their services. When interpreters have nay reservation about their ability to satisfy an assignment competently, they shall immediately convey that reservation to the appropriate judicial authority. |
| Duty to report ethical violations- Interpreters shall report to the District Office any effort to impede their compliance with any law, any provision of this code, or any other official policy governing court interpreting and legal translating. |
| Professional development- Interpreters shall continually improve their skills and knowledge and advance the profession through activities such as professional training and education and interaction with the colleagues and specialists in related fields. |
Selection and Payment Procedures
| Interpreters will be selected on a rotational basis. |
| If possible, interpreters will be kept on the same case for the life of the case. |
| It is recommended that interpreters will be paid $35 per hour (including mileage under 75 miles). Anything over 75 miles will be paid at a rate of $0.28 per mile. |
| Interpreters will not be paid for lunch breaks. |
| Interpreters will be paid from the time they were told to report (not any sooner) until the time they are dismissed by the judge. Interpreters will be paid a minimum of 1 hour and in increments of 15 minute intervals thereafter. |