So you’d like to be a court interpreter?

Maryland Court Interpreter Program

WHAT IS A COURT INTERPRETER?

A court interpreter is an individual who possesses native-like proficiency in both English and the target language. Court interpreters are professionals who are highly skilled in the three modes of court interpreting and are familiar with legal terminology, courtroom protocol and the Maryland Code of Professional Conduct for Court Interpreters. Upon being appointed by the Court, interpreters are required to take an oath, under penalty of perjury, to “…interpret accurately, completely, and impartially and to refrain from knowingly disclosing confidential or privileged information obtained while serving in the proceeding.” Rule 16-819 (d)(3)

There are three modes of court interpreting:

1. Sight translation – the oral reading of a document from the source language to the target language. The interpreter must read a document, process the information and render it accurately in the target language orally, generally in open court.


2. Consecutive interpretation – used during testimony on the witness stand and when a defendant addresses the Court if the party does not speak English. The interpreter says what is being uttered by each of the parties in the second language, orally without changing or adding anything. This becomes part of the record. Court interpreters must understand and speak legal jargon, street language, slang and formal language in both English and the target language.


3. Simultaneous interpretation – The interpreter listens to the source language and, at the same time, speaks in the target language for all to hear.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME CERTIFIED AS A COURT INTERPRETER IN MARYLAND?

The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains a Court Interpreter Registry that is distributed to the courts throughout the state. The process towards certification is often a long one and could take years. In order to become certified a candidate must:

1. Have previous experience as an interpreter.


2. Pass a criminal background check and have no pending criminal charges or convictions on a charge punishable by a fine of more than $500 or imprisonment for more than six months unless pardoned or expunged in accordance with the law. Rule 16-819 (a)(3)(C)


3. Attend a mandatory 1-day Introductory Workshop on Court Interpreting that is offered twice a year in Annapolis. The candidate will be offered a choice of a Friday, Saturday or Sunday date, space permitting. You must attend this workshop even if you are federally certified or certified by another state. There is a fee for the orientation workshop.


4. Pass a written examination on general knowledge of English, legal terminology, courtroom procedures and the Maryland Code of Professional Conduct for Court Interpreters. There is no additional fee for the written examination.


5. Undergo and pass an Language Proficiency Interview (LPI) in English and foreign languages. The LPI is a standardized procedure for the global assessment of functional speaking ability. This means that an LPI is a testing method, which measures how well a person speaks a language by comparing their performance of specific language tasks, not with some other person's, but with the criteria for each of ten proficiency levels. The LPI takes the form of a carefully structured conversation between a trained and certified interviewer and the person whose speaking proficiency is being assessed. A ratable speech sample is elicited from the interviewee by an individually determined series of questions or comments, which follow the established protocol of "probes" and "level-checks." There is a fee for the Language Proficiency Interview (LPI).


6. Attend a mandatory 2-day Court Interpreter Orientation Workshop. The candidate will be considered an eligible interpreter upon successful completion of this step. There is a fee for the 2-day, non-language specific training workshop.


7. Pass an oral examination on the three modes of interpreting if available in the target language. The candidate will be considered a Maryland certified court interpreter upon successful completion of this step. There is a fee for the oral examination.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

• What is the difference between an interpreter and a translator?
  An interpreter works with the spoken word, changing it from the source language to the target language. A translator places documents into the target language in writing.


• I am a translator, not an interpreter. I translate for members of the community. How do I get certified to be a translator?
  The Administrative Office of the Courts administers the Court Interpreter Program and does not certify translators. Many entities in the State of Maryland such as law firms, social service organizations, police departments, government agencies, community groups, hospitals and interpreter agencies request a copy of the Court Interpreter Registry Release List. Some of these entities may hire interpreters or translators. In order for an interpreter to be included on the Release List, written consent is required. There are currently no plans to certify translators.


• I speak both English and the target language perfectly, do I still need to take the test?
  Yes. The Maryland Judiciary’s interpreter program was established in the 1990s to deal with the then, and still escalating need to providing access to justice to the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population. Without these standards, state courts risk contracting unqualified interpreters, leaving equal access to justice by linguistic minorities an unfulfilled obligation.


• How long does it take to become an interpreter?
  Successful interpreters usually have years of life experience, have traveled extensively and have had contact with many cultures. The actual certification process can take up to a year or longer.


• I have an accent, does that matter?
  No, court interpreting is truly an equal opportunity field. The richer a person’s diversity, the more successful he/she seems to be as an interpreter. However, the main purpose of a court interpreter is communication, so it is imperative that the interpreter’s speech be clear, easy to understand and syntactically correct.


• Is there an age requirement?
  An interpreter must be “… an adult who has the ability to render a complete and accurate interpretation or sight translation, without altering, omitting or adding anything to what is stated or written and without explanation. A person related by blood or marriage to a party or to the person who needs an interpreter may not act as an interpreter.” Rule 16-819 (a)(2).


• Is there an education requirement to become certified?
  No, but interpreters encounter extremely complex language in the courts. An interpreter’s command of the source and the target language is usually at the college level or higher.


• Do I have to be a citizen of the United States to become an interpreter?
  The courts may only contract people who are legally authorized to work in the United States, but there is no citizenship requirement.


• Where would I work?
  Interpreters are hired on a contractual basis by the courts and are paid for services provided on an hourly basis. Once on the Court Interpreter Registry, interpreters are called as needed by the courts. Assignments may range from less than an hour to a full day, depending on the type of proceeding. Each interpreter is responsible for taxes and his/her own benefits. There is no guarantee that an interpreter will be called for work once included in the Court Interpreter Registry.


• What kind of assignments should I expect?
  Interpreters are needed in a wide variety of cases, which may include criminal cases (murder, rape, robbery), civil matters (divorce, family law, domestic violence), juvenile delinquency, children in need of assistance, termination of parental rights and more.


• I don’t live in the State of Maryland, can I still get certified?
  Residents of Maryland are given priority for any workshops and testing. The certification process is long and expensive.


• How can I get experience if I am not certified?
  Many interpreters begin interpreting in the courts after many years of interpreting informally. In order to gain experience, interpreters must be disciplined and begin studying on their own. Foreign newspapers on the Internet are great resources, which allow candidates to quickly gain access to current texts for sight translation. Court television gives certification candidates the opportunity to take a look into a courtroom and begin familiarizing themselves with terminology and protocol. Recording court television allows a candidate to pause the proceedings and practice consecutive interpretation. An interpreter can use the news or talk shows to practice simultaneous interpretation. In addition, there are many glossaries available on the Internet, which will help interpreters to study. Passing the certification exam requires a great deal of studying.
  


• Yes, I want to be an interpreter, now what?
  Once you have experience, visit our website at:

http://www.mdcourts.gov/interpreter/index.html. If you have no experience, look into different professional organizations that may help you learn about the field.

In addition, here are other websites for reference and selfstudy:
http://www.najit.org
http://www.ncsconline.org
http://www.atanet.org
http://www.cps.ca.gov/fcice-spanish
http://www.acebo.com

Visit different courthouses and begin familiarizing yourself with the courts. You will find that observing trials and other hearings will help you learn about the legal environment. During your visits you may meet experienced interpreters who could provide insight into becoming a certified court interpreter.

Court interpreting can be a highly stressful job and most successful candidates are committed professionals who become court interpreters after intensive study and hard work. The work of a court interpreter is rewarded by a dynamic and varied career in the courts. We encourage you to study and then decide whether court interpreting might be for you.

LARGE PRINT VERSION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PLEASE CALL (410) 260-1291

Administrative Office of the Courts Program Services
2001-D Commerce Park Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401-2913
(410) 260-1291
Fax: (410) 260-3570

Rev. 6/2008