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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Supreme Court has amended the rules governing court interpreters, with the changes set to take effect Jan. 1.
The court on Thursday approved the amendments to the Interpreter Code of Conduct & Procedure and the Disciplinary Process for Certified Court Interpreters & Candidates for Interpreter Certification.
Under the amendment to Rule II of the Interpreter Code, language regarding The Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification was deleted and replaced with language regarding The Council of Language Access Coordinators. The latter is now the organization that oversees court interpreting exams that support interpreter certification programs. “The council’s work is managed through projects of national interest in the area of language access and consists of coordinators, court administrators and staff provided by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).”
Rule III of the code was amended to update language regarding accuracy. The new language now prohibits court interpreters from “paraphrasing” what is said in court or “summariz(ing)” in-court statements.
Amendments to Rule V update the process of obtaining Indiana Court Interpreter Certification status.
Interpreters seeking certification must attend an approved two-day orientation seminar, a two-day skills building seminar and a one-day simultaneous workshop, as well as pass a written examination with an 80% score. Also, they must allow their phone number and email to be listed on the Certified Interpreter Registry and must sign an oath of compliance with the Code of Conduct.
Candidates for certification must take and pass an oral exam within two years of completing the orientation seminar. If two years lapse, candidates must retake the orientation seminar and the written exam.
Interpreters certified in federal court or through the Council of Language Access Coordinators will also be certified in Indiana state court after completing any necessary reciprocity application, paying required fees and submitting to a criminal background check.
Regarding the interpreter disciplinary process, an amendment to Rule 7 now tasks three-member panels of the Indiana Supreme Court Language Access Advisory Committee with reviewing disciplinary decisions and sanctions handed down by the chief administrative officer of the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration. In a footnote, the order notes that the committee was created under Indiana Administrative Rule 4(C) and includes judicial officers, attorneys, interpreters and other public officials who can serve a maximum of six consecutive years.
The three-member panels “shall review the record of the hearing to determine whether the decision reached and sanctions imposed were appropriate, or whether the IOJA abused its discretion.”
All justices concurred.
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