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The Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Interpreter Services today released a reference guide for judges to use in cases where court interpreter services are needed. Cleveland Municipal Court Judge and committee chairman Ronald B. Adrine made the announcement during the committee’s quarterly meeting.
The court interpreter handbook offers guidance for judges on the use of interpreters, including information on the proper steps to take to determine if a party or witness requires a trained interpreter, whether an interpreter has the requisite skills needed in a court setting and how to properly conduct the proceedings.
“The administration of justice should not depend on the language you speak,” said Judge Adrine. “This handbook will assist judges in ensuring that those who don’t speak English can understand judicial proceedings and make informed decisions.”
The need for court interpreters in Ohio has never been greater. More than 25,000 interpretations involving more than 70 different languages are performed every year in Ohio with Spanish as the most commonly interpreted language followed by American Sign Language, according to Bruno Romero, Interpreter Services Program manager for the Supreme Court.
Last year, the Interpreter Services Program developed and distributed to judges two bench cards for working with foreign language interpreters in the courtroom and for working with interpreters for deaf or hard of hearing persons in the courtroom.
“The handbook offers detailed information on many issues surrounding court interpreters. This, taken in tandem with bench cards, addresses a unique topic on which judges should be fully informed so as to adjudicate applicable cases in a fair manner,” said Jose Luis Mas, vice chair of the advisory committee. “We plan to hand out these helpful guides at court interpreter training sessions.”
“Interpreters in the Judicial System: A Handbook for Ohio Judges” is available for download at www.supremecourtofohio.gov/publications/interpreter_services/IShandbook.pdf.
The 20-member Advisory Committee on Interpreter Services provides assistance to judges and courts statewide on the issue of foreign language interpretation. The Supreme Court created the program upon joining the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification in 2003.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at, 614.387.9250.