COURT INTERPRETER SPANISH & ENGLISH
DEFINITION:
Under direction in a municipal court setting, interprets proceedings, hearings, interviews, and other municipal court related communicative events from English into Spanish and from Spanish into English; does other related duties.
NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
(These examples of work are to be performed by utilizing English and Spanish as required.)
Interprets consecutively into Spanish questions by attorneys, pro se parties, or by the Judge, and consecutively interprets answers given in Spanish by defendants, parties, and witnesses into English.
Sight translates Spanish or English documents as required during a proceeding, hearing, interview, or other municipal court-related communicative event.
Requests of the municipal judge a clarification of statements made by the speaker, if necessary, when unable to understand them or express a word or thought.
Operates interpreting equipment when performing simultaneous interpreting at proceedings.
Interprets simultaneously when required at proceedings all statements made by the parties, Judge, attorneys, and witnesses.
Collects data for the computation and submission of statistical records/reports regarding professional services delivered.
Analyzes data from statistical records/reports regarding professional services delivered.
Coordinates free-lance interpreting services for the Municipal Court.
Interprets at interviews and other communications between municipal court personnel and parties, defendants, witnesses, and the public.
Attends training aimed at maintaining/improving professional interpreting/translating skills.
Produces translations into English of letters, legal documents, and other materials written in Spanish which are submitted to the Court.
Proofreads documents translated by outside sources for accuracy.
Maintains records of interpreting/translating activities.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
Placement within the "conditionally approved" on the screening or certification test administered by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts or certification by any state/federal agency recognized by the Administrative Office of the Courts as equivalent or superior to the screening or certification test administered by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the Code of Professional Conduct for Interpreters, Transliterators, and Translators and the Standards for Interpreted Proceedings.
Knowledge of theory, methods, techniques, ethics, and standards of interpreting/translating.
Knowledge of phonology, vocabulary, grammar, and dialectology of English and Spanish.
Knowledge of methods, techniques, and procedures used in interpreting in the sight, simultaneous, and consecutive modes.
Ability to operate interpreting equipment when performing simultaneous interpreting at proceedings after a period of training.
Ability to understand and interpret legal terminology in English and the equivalents in Spanish.
Ability to translate forms, letters, and other court-related documents from English into Spanish and from Spanish to English.
Ability to interpret in sight, consecutive, and simultaneous modes for proceedings, hearings, interviews, and other court-related communicative events.
Ability to acquire knowledge of the court system protocol during court proceedings and in less formal court related interactions.
Ability to keep clear, concise, and informative records and reports.
Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English and Spanish enough to perform the duties of this position.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
