April 7, 2005
Supreme Court Creates Advisory Committee to Study Use of Court Interpreters in Ohio
Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer today announced the appointment of an 18-member advisory committee that will study how to best use interpreters in the Ohio court system.
The need for skilled, qualified interpreters in the courts has increased by as much as 200 percent during the last three years, according to a 2004 survey of court administrators conducted by the Supreme Court Interpreter Services Program.
“In Ohio, there are approximately 116 spoken languages and we are seeing a rapidly growing population with limited English proficiency coming into the court system,” said Chief Justice Moyer.
The Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Interpreter Services, which will meet for the first time in early May, is composed of judges, attorneys, court personnel, interpreters and representatives from the deaf community.
“An individual who comes into court not knowing the language doesn't have the protection of due process of law unless the system can provide that person with an ethical and effective interpreter,” said Judge Ronald Adrine of Cleveland Municipal Court, who will serve as committee chair. “This committee can assist with getting more professional and ethical language services into the courts.”
In 2003, the Supreme Court created a new Supreme Court program oriented towards advising local courts on the appropriate and effective use of court interpreters. The Supreme Court hired former court interpreter and dispute resolution professional Bruno Romero to manage the program.
Both the Interpreter Services Program and the advisory committee were created because of recommendations that came from the Supreme Court of Ohio Racial Fairness Implementation Task Force. The task force was created by Chief Justice Moyer in 2000 to help implement the findings of the Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness, which found a disparity in perceptions between white and minority citizens about the legal system and called for changes in the legal profession, court employment, juries, criminal justice, law schools and interpreter services.
In addition to determining what situations call for an interpreter, courts must also gauge if an interpreter is effectively trained to function in that capacity.
“The mere fact that someone can speak English and another language fluently doesn't mean that they are qualified to interpret in a court environment,” said Judge Adrine.
The committee will advise the court on how to determine interpreter qualifications and will suggest valuable training programs for interpreters, judges and court personnel.
The advisory committee will also:
- Make recommendations regarding policy and rulemaking.
- Disseminate information to assist in the proper use of interpreters.
- Identify and promote successful and proven court policies that effectively and efficiently utilize interpreters.
- Advise the Supreme Court on the long-term needs and strategies of the interpreter services program.
- Utilize resources provided by the State Courts Interpreter Certification Consortium, which is centered at the National Center for State Courts, and which the Supreme Court joined in 2003.
Committee members are:
| Judge Ronald Adrine, Chair Cleveland Municipal Court Cuyahoga County |
Judge Julia Dorrian Franklin County Municipal Court Franklin County |
| Jean Atkin Court Administrator, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Lucas County |
Isabel Framer Interpreter/Consultant Summit County |
| Judge Donna J. Carr Ninth Judicial District Summit County |
Judge Cheryl Grant Hamilton County Municipal Court Hamilton County |
| Bob Coltrane Director, Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center Hamilton County |
Mag. David Hejmanowski Magistrate Delaware County Juvenile Court Delaware Ohio |
| Atiba Jones Executive Director, Franklin County Common Pleas Court Franklin County |
Maria Rodriguez Interpreter Services Coordinator, Cleveland Municipal Court Cuyahoga County |
| Jose Luis Mas, Vice Chair Attorney, Franklin County |
Jesus Salas Managing Attorney, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Lucas County |
| Stephen McIntosh City Prosecutor, City of Columbus Franklin County |
Judge Steven L. Story Meigs County Court Meigs County |
| Jill Snitcher McQuain Assistant Bar Counsel, Columbus Bar Association Franklin County |
Judge Elizabeth Thomakos Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Tuscarawas County |
| Marsha E. Nippert Executive Director, Ohio Alliance of Community Centers for the Deaf Franklin County |
Judge Jose Villanueva Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Cuyahoga County |
| Staff Liaison Bruno G. Romero Program Manager, Interpreter Services Supreme Court of Ohio |
Contact: Shannon Libby at 614.387.9250.