State Judiciary Seeks Court Interpreters

Do you speak English and another language or know someone who does?

The state Judiciary is looking for individuals who speak both English and another language to become court interpreters.

State court interpreter orientation workshops, which are mandatory for the position, are scheduled to be held in Hilo on Thursday and Friday, March 19-20.

Applications for the two-day workshop are currently being accepted and the registration deadline is Jan. 23.

Formss can be found online on the Judiciary’s website, as well as from the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at (808) 539-4860. The workshops requires a $120 registration fee, and includes a resource binder.

Individuals who are certified sign language interpreters are also encouraged to apply.

Other requirements, in addition to the successful completion of the orientation workshop to become a state court interpreter, include a written English proficiency exam, a court interpreter ethics exam, and the clearing of a criminal background check.

The job is paid on a freelance basis where court interpreters work as independent contractors in cases where parties or witnesses are unable to hear, understand, speak or use English sufficiently.

Pay depends on the interpreter’s performance on written and oral exams, and is between $25 and $55 per hour with a two-hour minimum.