Court Interpreter - Spanish

Under supervision, performs a wide variety of language interpretation activities on an assigned and as-needed basis for the California Superior Trial Courts and for persons doing business with the courts. This includes but is not limited to verbal interpreting/translating of questions, testimony, arguments, written and legal documents, and other courtroom proceedings for defendants, judges, counsel, jurors, witnesses, and others.

• Interprets from and into English and the applicable non-English language using simultaneous and consecutive modes at court proceedings.
• Makes sight translations of documents for the benefit of the court.
• Interprets for judges, attorneys, court staff, and other justice-related partners.
• Interprets court procedures to non-English-speaking persons at the direction of Court management.
• Researches and understands terminology used in legal proceedings.
• Performs other interpretive duties as assigned.
• Accurately completes daily activity logs or other paperwork as required.
• Travels within the County.

• Ability to orally convey the meaning from and into English and the applicable non-English language by interpreting in the simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modes.
• Ability to accurately convey meaning, without editing, summarizing, adding meaning, or omitting, ability to interpret impartially.
• Ability to use correct grammar and vocabulary of English and non-English language specified.
• Knowledge of culture and customs of the groups and communities using specified language.
• Ability to use office equipment including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, fax, and assisted-listening devices, as required by the assignment.
• Knowledge of and adherence to all California statutes, Rules of Court, and applicable personnel rules concerning court interpretation.
• Knowledge of and adherence to interpreter ethics and standards as stipulated in California Rules of Court Rule 984.4, Professional Conduct for Interpreters.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Spoken language court interpreters interpret in civil or criminal court proceedings (e.g., arraignments, motions, pretrial conferences, preliminary hearings, depositions, trials) for witnesses or defendants who speak or understand little or no English. American Sign Language interpreters interpret for all parties who are deaf or hard of hearing in all proceedings. Court interpreters must accurately interpret for individuals with a high level of education and an extensive vocabulary, as well as for persons with very limited language skills without changing the language register of the speaker.

Interpreters are also sometimes responsible for translating written documents, often of a legal nature, from English into the target language and from the target language into English.

California court interpreters have an important job in the courtroom: they interpret court proceedings for witnesses and defendants with limited English skills or for parties who are deaf or hard of hearing. The position requires strong memory and communication skills. Court interpreters shift between two different languages, in real time, accounting for different types of speech and grammar. They also know legal terms and commonly used courtroom forms and reports.

Very much so. According to a recent study, more than 200 languages are spoken in California. Of the state's 36 million people, about 20 percent speak English less than "very well." That's almost 7 million Californians who would need help from an interpreter if they found themselves in court.

• American Sign Language
• Arabic
• Armenian (Eastern)
• Armenian (Western)
• Cantonese
• Japanese
• Korean
• Mandarin
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Tagalog
• Vietnamese

People who master other languages can become registered interpreters with the same full-time pay and benefits that certified interpreters receive.

Yes. Court interpreting is a very demanding job. Spoken language court interpreters must be completely fluent in both English and the second language, while court interpreters of American Sign Language must be completely fluent in both English and American Sign Language. The level of expertise required for this…