List of Interpreters By The Trial Court
Interpreters List From The Trial Court
Updated July 21, 2009.
The interpreters list comes from the Massachusetts Trial Court Office of Court Interpreter Services (OCIS).
The Office of Court Interpreter Services (OCIS) recruits and trains professional interpreters who provide interpreting services to the Trial Court throughout the Commonwealth. This specialized training leads to two levels of accreditation, screened and certified. Generally, interpreters begin working for OCIS as screened interpreters and, upon accumulation of interpreting expertise, progress toward the higher accreditation level of certified. Certification is most often achieved by passing written and oral exams. In some languages there are no certified interpreters. Many of the certified interpreters are also qualified to interpret in the federal courts.
As the sole public accrediting authority for spoken language court interpreters in the Commonwealth, OCIS maintains a list of interpreters to facilitate access to court proceedings for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals. In addition, OCIS provides general access to interpreter services by making this list public so it can be used by attorneys and other legal or law-related entities that seek assistance in obtaining qualified interpreters. To arrange interpreters for non-court-ordered events for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, contact the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (www.mass.gov/mcdhh).
The list includes both staff interpreters and per diem interpreters. Staff interpreters are state employees, while per diem interpreters are independent contractors.
By creating this list and allowing staff interpreters to be included in it, the Trial Court is in no way taking a position on whether any or all "outside work by staff interpreters" is in conflict with or prohibited by the State Ethics Law (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 268A), the Trial Court Policies and Procedures Manual, and/or any applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Further, please be advised that Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66 § 10 forbids the Trial Court from disclosing the home address and home telephone number of staff interpreters.
Please be advised that interpreters are required to disclose any previous involvement with a case before proceeding to interpret in the same matter in court. This disclosure does not necessarily disqualify an interpreter from continuing to provide services in a particular case. Rather, it serves to inform the Court and to maintain the integrity of the court interpreter's primary role as an objective officer of the court. For additional information about interpreter standards of practice, see Section 4 of the Standards and Procedures of the Office of Court Interpreter Services.
Please note that interpreter participation in this list is voluntary. Interpreters are not required to take out-of-court assignments. Also, there may be additional resources in your area who choose not to be listed here.
If you have any questions about the list, please contact Gaye Gentes, Manager of Court Interpreters, Mass. Trial Courts, at 617-742-8383, x 454.