Alabama Now Requiring Registration of Foreign Language Court Interpreters
As the presiding judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, I have seen a growing need for qualified Foreign Language Court Interpreters ("FLCIs") in our courts. Ala. Code (1975) § 15-1-3(a)(1) provides that a judge may appoint a qualified interpreter if, at any stage of a criminal or juvenile proceeding, the defendant, juvenile or a witness informs the court that he or she does not speak or understand the English language. However, the Alabama courts currently have no system in place to ensure that FLCIs are qualified to participate in court proceedings. One can be perfectly fluent in English and in another foreign language, without being a qualified legal interpreter.For years, the federal court system has maintained a central registry of court interpreters who have taken a proficiency course and passed a certification examination. Fortunately, the Spanish-Speaking Lawyers Sub-Committee of the Alabama State Bar, of which I am proud to serve as honorary chair, has come up with a solution to this problem. Working closely with the Administrative Office of Courts ("AOC"), the sub-committee has adopted a program that will mirror the federal court system's program and provide a pool of registered FLCIs from which judges and lawyers can select qualified interpreters.
Effective October 1, 2008, foreign language interpreters providing services in Alabama's district, circuit and juvenile courts are required to register with the AOC. Upon reviewing the registration and conducting a successful background check, the AOC will send the registered interpreter additional information regarding ethical and professional conduct and interpreter qualifications and certification. The AOC will list each eligible registered foreign language interpreter on an AOC Foreign Language Services Registry. This registry will be made available to all judges, attorneys and the general public.
On toward the certification process
This new requirement is the first step in a larger initiative which will result in a certification process. We have automatic reciprocity for interpreters currently certified by the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Program. The Spanish-Speaking Lawyers Sub-Committee is currently working with Alabama colleges and universities to establish courses which will follow the curriculum established by the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification ("the Consortium"). The course is designed to teach FLCIs legal terminology and the basic distinctions between our legal system and the legal systems in place in other cultures, particularly the Hispanic culture. Once the interpreters have completed the proficiency course, they will be required to pass a standardized test administered by the consortium in order to obtain certification.
This effort to ensure consistency and proficiency among court interpreters reflects the need to embrace cultural diversity in Alabama. I urge all members of the bench and bar to make interpreters with whom they may come in contact aware of this new requirement. Information about the program and the registration form may be accessed athttp://elegal.alacourt.gov/, and copies of the Policies and Procedures for Foreign Language Interpreters will be distributed to the circuit clerks' offices statewide. ¡Muchas gracias!
--Judge J. Scott Vowell, Birmingham
