Administrative Office of the Courts
DELAWARE COURT INTERPRETERS PROGRAM

THE CONSORTIUM

Best Practices for Attorneys Working with Court Interpreters

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.

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