In 2014 over 11,000 Indian Court Cases Used Interpreter

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In 2014 over 11,000 trial court cases in Indiana used a language interpreter, according to a recently released report from the Indiana Supreme Court.
The Indiana Supreme Court established a Court Interpreter Program in 2002 and has certified 107 interpreters in nine languages, including Spanish, French, Polish and Mandarin.
Although the interpretation certification program is rigorous to complete, Indiana courts aren’t mandated to use certified interpreters and often use people who haven’t gone through the program.
“I believe strongly that a person should prove their mettle by taking a test before they should venture to do something as delicate as interpret for someone’s life and liberty,” says Christina Courtright, Freelance Court Interpreter and Legal Translator in Indiana and Kentucky.
The Indiana Supreme Court says despite no requirement to use certified interpreters, local courts tend to seek them out.
“Usually they will want someone certified just because they have gone through the process, but if they cannot get a certified interpreter they usually will have a qualified one,” says Lakesha Triggs, Staff Attorney at the Indiana Supreme Court.
A qualified interpreter goes through the same system of training for certified interpreters, with the exception of an oral examination. It is up to the individual courts to decide whether or not to use certified or qualified interpreters.
According to Courtright, this doesn’t go far enough. She would like to see Indiana promote stricter guidelines for court interpreters.
“I think it’s a disservice to defendants and to the courts to not have the highest linguistic quality that is available,” Courtright says.