THE CONSORTIUM
In the last ten years, the Delaware Courts, like those in
other jurisdictions, have experienced a dramatic rise in the number
of non-English speaking litigants. In order to meet the constitutional
requirements of fundamental fairness, equal protection, and the
right to cross-examine adverse witnesses, courts must appoint
interpreters in criminal cases in which witnesses and defendants
do not speak English. Language barriers prevent millions of non-English-speaking
persons from receiving equal access to the judicial system. It
is critical to the judicial system that all participants are capable
of fully understanding court proceedings. In recognition of the
need to work jointly to ensure the availability of qualified court
interpreters and to meet the judicial demands of growing ethnic
populations, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington founded
the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification in July
1995.
The Consortium consists of 39 member states, including Delaware, that contribute funds, share
resources and develop policies standardizing the use of qualified
court interpreters. To guarantee that all interpreters meet the
requirements, the Consortium develops and regulates proficiency
tests given by member states for court interpreters. The goal
is to ensure that every court interpreter is sufficiently competent
to facilitate the due process of law. More information about the Consortium can be found at www.ncsconline.org.
DELAWARE'S COURT INTERPRETER PROGRAM
Chief Justice E. Norman Veasey established
Delaware's certified court interpreters program under Administrative
Directive No. 107 in April 1996, in recognition of the guiding
principle
that all persons should have equal access to the Delaware
justice system and the need for minimum requirements related to
the provision of court interpreter services in Delaware courts.
The requirements implemented under the Directive include:
- Implementation of a certification program for court interpreters
providing foreign language interpretative services in Delaware,
requiring completion of an orientation session and proficiency
testing.
- Adoption of the Delaware Court Interpreters' Code of Professional
Responsibility to guide the professional conduct of court interpreters
and the requirement that a court interpreter agree, under oath,
to abide by the provisions of the Code.
- Provision of appropriate notice of the role of the court interpreter
to parties, witnesses and jurors in court proceedings in which
court interpreters are used.
- Establishment of the Court Interpreters Advisory Committee to
oversee Delaware's court interpreters certification program.
TO BECOME A CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETER IN
DELAWARE
Interpreters seeking certification should have
training and specialized skills in legal and/or court interpreting
and must demonstrate the following:
- Fluency, comprehension and extensive
knowledge of vocabulary and dialects of both English and another
language.
- Familiarity with the structure and procedures
of the Delaware court and justice system, and the interpreter's
role within the system.
- Knowledge of basic legal terminology.
- Competency in simultaneous,
sight and consecutive court interpretation.
- Commitment to abide by the Delaware
Court Interpreters' Code of Professional Responsibility.
Please review the Qualification and Registration document for more information on the qualification, credentialing and registration process.
For more information
on becoming a Certified Court Interpreter in Delaware, please contact:
Maria Perez-Chambers
Coordinator, Court Interpreter Program
Administrative Office of the Courts
500 N. King Street, Suite 11600
Wilmington, DE 19801
voice: 302.255.0166
fax: 302.255.2217
Maria.Perez-Chambers@state.de.us
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