Court Interpreter Program Training Courses

  • Court Interpreters! The Good, the Bad... and the Ugly (2020)

    Credentialed court interpreters serve as a conduit between Limited English Proficient (LEP) court users and English-speaking officials in legal forums. The goal of a court interpreter is to enable the judge and jury to react in the same manner to a LEP speaking person as they do with one who speaks English. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166 provides the right for language access and thereby affording LEP court users fair access to justice.

    During this training, Ms. Escobar provides a basic overview of the role of a certified court interpreter. She will discuss the different types of interpretation, ethical responsibilities, the brain science and multilingual language control in simultaneous interpretation, and other tools of the trade.


  • Ethics in the Courtroom for Court Interpreters (2017)
    During this session, presenters will review the "Code of Professional Responsibility for Nevada Court Interpreters". The training will outline the 10 different areas of the Nevada Code of Professional Responsibility and discuss various ethical considerations for credentialed court interpreters.
  • Understanding and Preventing Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue in the Court Community (2017)
    We are individually and collectively affected by trauma through the work we do each day. We are traumatized by what we see, hear, and read and by the questions we must ask and the answers we receive. Most of us have lived with the message that “if we care enough, we’ll tough it out.” We are learning very quickly that we have been deceiving each other and ourselves with such a mantra. In fact, the toll that trauma takes is significant and serious. As representatives of the courts, we cannot be delinquent in tending to our needs while embracing our roles as public servants.
  • UPDATED Interpreting for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases

    Between 1990 and 2013, the number of individuals with limited English proficiency in the United States grew by 80%. This represents 9% of the total U.S. population. And more than one in every five people in the US currently speaks a language other than English at home. Our civil and criminal justice systems must effectively respond to all people seeking safety and justice through the courts, including those with limited-English proficiency. Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault can face special challenges as they navigate the justice system. A survivor with Limited-English proficiency (LEP) can encounter even greater obstacles to finding help, recovery and justice. This introductory course - Interpreting for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases - seeks to equip court and legal interpreters with fundamental knowledge and insights about domestic violence and sexual assault that will enhance their ability to help LEP survivors make their voices heard.

    Interpreting for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases consists of self-paced interactive modules guided by a virtual coach. Participants can move through the course with several navigational tools and may return to various learning points. Modules 1 and 2 of the course offer a learning experience for interpreters as well as other professionals in the justice system who may encounter domestic violence and sexual assault survivors with limited English proficiency. The third module focusses on interpreter skills and knowledge of important ethical considerations for interpreting in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault.  Although this information is designed for interpreters, professionals who work with interpreters in domestic violence and sexual assault cases also will find it helpful.


  • Nevada/New Mexico Language Access Basic Training (2015)
    The Language Access Basic Training (LABT) is an interactive training that is downloaded by users and provides an introduction to language access for all court employees. The purpose of the training is to ensure that all court employees have a basic understanding of their ethical and legal obligations, as well as current best practices in serving limited English proficient and non-English speaking individuals. The Nevada Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts has partnered with the New Mexico Language Access Center to offer this online course. The AOC has purchased a limited number of licenses for use by the Courts for Modules 1 and 2. The New Mexico Language Access Basic Training is a collaborative project funded by the State Justice Institute and supported by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and the Language Access Advisory Committee of the Council of State Court Administrators (COSCA).