26 Mar Beyond Language, The Expert Interpreter

Beyond Language, The Expert Interpreter

By Reme Bashi

“You can sit there,” the judge told me, as he pointed to an empty seat at the respondent’s table. I politely replied: “Thank you, your honor, but I’ll be using equipment and not sitting by the respondent.”  The judge seemed a bit surprised when I didn’t immediately follow his suggestion.  And once I was set up and the hearing began, he was pleased to realize I knew what I was doing.  The question I would like to explore in this piece is — When is it acceptable to manage your work environment and performance, and when is it necessary to follow the direct orders of a Judge or Commissioner?

When justice speaks, it echoes with power, purpose, and responsibility

There are orders from a judge you simply cannot ignore.  They may have to do with the volume of your voice, your position in the courtroom when it interferes with the proceeding, a request to sight translate a document, or to interpret for particular people outside the courtroom.  Depending on what the practice is in your jurisdiction, for example, the expectation may be for attorneys to hire their own interpreter to go over a plea questionnaire with a non-English speaking client well in advance of a hearing.  Personally, I think that’s the best practice.  However, if a judge orders me to step outside the courtroom and interpret for an attorney and client to go over a document, I will comply with the judge’s request.

“Judges” — a word that echoes both biblical authority and modern legal responsibility

On the other hand, on occasion, well-meaning people and judges will try to tell the interpreter how to do their job.  I’m sure many of us interpreters have had the experience of getting small orders from mainly male attorneys or judges. To be clear, I have not done any formal research on this topic, I’m speaking from my own experience and based on stories from my female colleagues.

I still remember many years ago, in the infancy of my court interpreting career, at some point in a hearing, I was listening to the judge speak waiting to capture an idea to begin interpreting simultaneously, when the prosecutor, a male attorney who was older than me, loudly said “you’re supposed to interpret that,” while looking towards me.  I was so shocked by the comment, that I didn’t know how to react, and I simply interpreted what the prosecutor said and then picked up interpreting for the judge.  I was so humiliated and baffled; I don’t know if I ever did anything about the incident.

Lady Justice stands as a timeless symbol of fairness, impartiality, and the authority of the law

As the years have gone by, I hope I’ve improved in managing my work environment to better serve the courts.  Most often, the only linguist in a courtroom will be the court interpreter.  The person better equipped in matters of language access will be the interpreter.  We understand the guidelines, best practices, code of ethics, and even our own limitations and strengths when interpreting.  We are the experts and can help everyone in a courtroom have a more productive language access experience when we manage our performance and environment.

As a professional court interpreter, you know what best practices are when it comes to modes of interpretation. You know where you need to position yourself in the courtroom, you might even know what creative solutions to employ when it comes to technology. Don’t be shy when it comes to managing your work environment to provide the courts with the best experience possible when it comes to language access.

I invite you to share your expertise and speak up to provide more efficient practices to court interpreting.  A judge is the king or queen of the courtroom.  We must comply with a judge’s request unless it involves breaking the code of ethics, but a good suggestion from an expert will most likely be well received.

When we are faced with suggestions or comments from non-interpreters on how we should do our jobs, I urge you to remember, we are the experts when it comes to interpreting in the courtroom. Be humble, be polite, and yet assertive.

Keep the Conversation Going

If this topic resonated with you, be sure to check out our previous blog posts for more insights on the realities of our profession, and the evolving world of judiciary translation and interpreting:

• When to Let Compassion Take the Driver’s Seat – The article explores how court interpreters can balance professionalism with empathy, recognizing when compassion should guide their actions to support those they serve.
• Writing for Proteus – Share your expertise and insights with the judiciary translation and interpreting community by contributing to Proteus, NAJIT’s quarterly publication
• The Failings of the Ivory Tower — A critical look at the disconnect between academic institutions and the practical realities of the judiciary translation and interpretation profession.
• The Couch: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome — Exploring the challenges of self-doubt in the interpreting profession and strategies to build confidence.

You can find these and more in our blog archives!

Interested in sharing your insights with our community? Check out Writing for The NAJIT Observer to learn how you can contribute.

The images used in this post are sourced from Unsplash. They are used for illustrative purposes only.

A woman with a warm smile in the autumn sunlight

Reme Bashi

Blog Writer and proofreader

Hello, everyone, I’m Reme Bashi, and I have been a certified court interpreter in Wisconsin since 2008. My career began in Mexico, where I majored in pedagogy at the University of Veracruz and transitioned from language teaching to interpreting and translation. Over the years, I have gained experience in education, manufacturing, legal, and community settings, including conference interpreting for media and government events. I’m passionate about continuous learning, which I believe is essential for growth in our profession. Recently, I have ventured into areas like hospitality, urban gardening, and ancestry research, enriching my perspective as an interpreter and writer. I look forward to contributing content that sparks dialogue and deepens our understanding of the field.