Court Interpreter

at  Humboldt Superior Court

POSITION SUMMARY

Under general direction, Court Interpreters perform literal and general interpretation in Superior Court proceedings and interviews requiring fluency in English and a foreign language. Court Interpreters may also be called upon to provide site translations of court exhibits (reading written texts and giving an oral translation of text). This position may include scheduling other interpreters.

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Legal terminology;
• Courtroom procedures;
• Correct usage of grammar, spelling and punctuation of English and appropriate foreign language; interpreting techniques and ethics ;and
• Legal clerical office practices, procedures and policies.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Speak, read, and write fluently in English and appropriate foreign language;
• Translate orally in English and appropriate foreign language accurately,
• Careful not to edit, summarize, or add or omit meaning;
• Remain impartial including during adversarial and emotionally charged situations;
• Comprehend and retain dialogue in both languages at the same rate and in the same manner consistent with courtroom procedures;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with judges, attorneys, witnesses, and other court personnel;
• Interact professionally and cooperatively with all others in contact with during the course of work;
• Use general office equipment such as computers, telephones and copiers as needed and required by the assignment;
• Use of transmitter and receiver equipment provided by the court for simultaneous interpretation as directed;
• Understand and adhere to California statutes, Rules of Court,
• Able to learn and apply a variety of superior court procedures and practices;Adhere to interpreter ethics and standards, as stipulated in California Rules of Court, Rule 2.890; and

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Possession of a valid certificate as a Court Interpreter in the State of California.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid California driver’s license may be required
• Passing a detailed background and/or criminal history check

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or are encountered by an employee while successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Regularly Required

• Sit at a desk and/or in front of a computer terminal
• Twist and bend neck
• Repetitive hand movement while performing computer data entry as well as writing
• Stand while assisting employees
• Reach above and below shoulder height
• Grasp, lift and move items weighing up to 10 lbs.

• Push and/or pull drawers of desk and/or file cabinets

  Frequently Required

• Kneel, crouch and stoop while retrieving materials from shelves and cabinets

• Tolerate mild exposure to dust

• Grasp, lift and move items weighing up to 25 lbs.

  Occasionally Required

• Move items weighing up to 50 lbs.

• Crawl and/or climb while retrieving materials
• Drive to various meeting locations
• Travel to various court divisions

• Court Interpreters provide access to justice for non-English speakers in a variety of settings requiring fluency in English and a foreign language;
• Performs courtroom interpretation as assigned, by interpreting simultaneously and consecutively for the court and for defendants, victims, witnesses, attorneys and other parties to the proceedings;
• Interpret for other court-related departments from English to a foreign language at the direction of the court:
• Interprets and translates the administration of oaths by the appropriate court officer to witnesses, plaintiffs, defendants, etc.;
• Makes site translations of documents for the benefit of the court, including, but not limited to technical, medical, and legal documents, written evidence and correspondence, reading written texts and giving oral translations of texts as well as other documents as requested by the court and related personnel; and
• Interprets explanations of routine court procedures from attorneys and/or court staff for foreign language speaking persons in court; and
• Interprets and site translates at the counter as needed