What are the responsibilities of a court interpreter?

A. Interpreters must provide an accurate, impartial interpretation of court proceedings. To ensure that freelance interpreters meet the high standard set by the court system, the judicial body has established rigorous written and oral testing and screening measures, first in English and, then, in one of 22 foreign languages. Where a foreign language exam does not exist, the interpreter must provide academic and professional credentials to support proficiency in that language. All freelance interpreters who successfully complete this eligibility process must undergo a background check and officially swear to fulfill the duties of the position of court interpreter to the best of their ability. Once this process has been completed, the interpreter will be added to the registry of freelance interpreters which is maintained by the Office of Language Access (OLA). Court interpreters are required to observe a Code of Professional Conduct that states they are expected to provide interpreting services in an impartial, accurate and proficient manner. Failure to comply with the code may result in removal from the registry of freelance interpreters eligible to work in the courts.