Translating for non-English speakers a high-demand role in the courtroom
Kris Wernowsky
kwernowsky@pnj.com
Court interpreter Susan Taylor translates for
Adriano Souza in Judge Nick Geeker's courtroom.
(Gary McCracken/gmccracken@pnj.com)
Adriano Souza, in court on theft and drug-possession charges, doesn't speak English.
He leaned over to his court-appointed translator, Susan Taylor, who repeated in Portuguese, Souza's native language, the judge's instruction that he fill out an application for a public defender.
"I really like what I do, to be able to interpret for people who need your help," Taylor said later. "They are in a different country with different rules."
As the number of non-English-speaking defendants has risen over the past several years, so has the need for translators.
In the 1st Judicial Circuit — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties — the cases that required translators increased from 1,399 in the 2004-05 fiscal year to 3,006 in 2007-2008.
The cost for the last fiscal year: $68,260.
The local court system employs 30 translators in various languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Polish and American Sign Language. The Spanish translators are most in demand, said Taylor, who also speaks Spanish and German.
The translators take an oath to translate the proceedings for the defendant verbatim. They must remain impartial, not embellishing or cleaning up language.
"Court interpretation is a difficult skill," said Eddie Wehmeier, a Pensacola native who learned to speak Spanish while working on a humanitarian dental project in Honduras several years ago and wanted to keep up his newly learned skills.
"It requires extreme concentration. You pretty much have to be on your game at all times," he said.
A changing program
The State of Florida has moved gradually over the past several years to a formal translator program. For years, courts used people with reputations as good translators or, in some cases, even defendants' family members.
In 1998, the courts adopted a formal training and testing program, but participation was voluntary. In 2006, the Florida Supreme Court established standards for qualification, certification, ethical conduct and discipline.
"What certification provides is a statewide mandate that was lacking," said Lisa Bell, who oversees translation programs the for the Office of the State Courts Administrator in Tallahassee. "It was a voluntary process that many interpreters did not avail themselves to."
In July, the state court system began phasing in a statewide certification process for translators.
Requirements
Courts now are required to use either certified or duly qualified interpreters whenever available. If such a person is not available, a judge can appoint a translator.
A duly qualified interpreter is defined as someone who has passed a state-issued written exam, attended a two-day orientation program and has a basic understanding of legal terminology in both languages. Certified translators, the highest standard, also pass a rigorous oral exam.
Certified interpreters here are paid $50 for the first hour and $40 for each subsequent hour. Duly qualified interpreters get $10 less an hour.
Those who have neither distinction but meet the court's requirements are paid $35 the first hour and $25 every hour after that.
'A great team
So far, the 1st Judicial Circuit has only one certified translator and two who are duly qualified, said Debi Rimmer, who administers translators locally.
Nevertheless, Rimmer said, "We have a great team here, and I have to say they approach their profession very seriously. I never have to deal with no-shows or unprofessional behavior."
Kris Wernowsky
kwernowsky@pnj.com
Court interpreter Susan Taylor translates for
Adriano Souza in Judge Nick Geeker's courtroom.
(Gary McCracken/gmccracken@pnj.com)
Adriano Souza, in court on theft and drug-possession charges, doesn't speak English.
He leaned over to his court-appointed translator, Susan Taylor, who repeated in Portuguese, Souza's native language, the judge's instruction that he fill out an application for a public defender.
"I really like what I do, to be able to interpret for people who need your help," Taylor said later. "They are in a different country with different rules."
As the number of non-English-speaking defendants has risen over the past several years, so has the need for translators.
In the 1st Judicial Circuit — Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties — the cases that required translators increased from 1,399 in the 2004-05 fiscal year to 3,006 in 2007-2008.
The cost for the last fiscal year: $68,260.
The local court system employs 30 translators in various languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Polish and American Sign Language. The Spanish translators are most in demand, said Taylor, who also speaks Spanish and German.
The translators take an oath to translate the proceedings for the defendant verbatim. They must remain impartial, not embellishing or cleaning up language.
"Court interpretation is a difficult skill," said Eddie Wehmeier, a Pensacola native who learned to speak Spanish while working on a humanitarian dental project in Honduras several years ago and wanted to keep up his newly learned skills.
"It requires extreme concentration. You pretty much have to be on your game at all times," he said.
A changing program
The State of Florida has moved gradually over the past several years to a formal translator program. For years, courts used people with reputations as good translators or, in some cases, even defendants' family members.
In 1998, the courts adopted a formal training and testing program, but participation was voluntary. In 2006, the Florida Supreme Court established standards for qualification, certification, ethical conduct and discipline.
"What certification provides is a statewide mandate that was lacking," said Lisa Bell, who oversees translation programs the for the Office of the State Courts Administrator in Tallahassee. "It was a voluntary process that many interpreters did not avail themselves to."
In July, the state court system began phasing in a statewide certification process for translators.
Requirements
Courts now are required to use either certified or duly qualified interpreters whenever available. If such a person is not available, a judge can appoint a translator.
A duly qualified interpreter is defined as someone who has passed a state-issued written exam, attended a two-day orientation program and has a basic understanding of legal terminology in both languages. Certified translators, the highest standard, also pass a rigorous oral exam.
Certified interpreters here are paid $50 for the first hour and $40 for each subsequent hour. Duly qualified interpreters get $10 less an hour.
Those who have neither distinction but meet the court's requirements are paid $35 the first hour and $25 every hour after that.
'A great team
So far, the 1st Judicial Circuit has only one certified translator and two who are duly qualified, said Debi Rimmer, who administers translators locally.
Nevertheless, Rimmer said, "We have a great team here, and I have to say they approach their profession very seriously. I never have to deal with no-shows or unprofessional behavior."
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