The Judiciary is seeking people who speak English and another language to serve as court interpreters.
Applications are currently being accepted for the next state court interpreter orientation workshop to be held on Maui from Feb. 20 to 21. Completion of the two-day workshop is one of the mandatory requirements to become a court interpreter for the state Judiciary. Workshops also are being held on Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island.
The workshop will be held at the State Building in Wailuku, third-floor conference rooms A and B, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Registration will be from 8 to 8:30 a.m.
The registration deadline is Jan. 15. Registration forms are available on the Judiciary's website and from the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at (808) 539-4860.
The workshop registration fee is $75. A grant from the Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation and Hawaii Friends of Justice and Civic Education has reduced the cost of the workshop.
Certified sign language interpreters also are encouraged to apply.
In addition to successfully completing the orientation workshop, people seeking to become state court interpreters must pass written English proficiency and court interpreter ethics exams and clear a criminal background check.
Court interpreters work on a freelance basis as independent contractors in cases when parties or witnesses are unable to hear, understand, speak or use English sufficiently. Depending on their performance on written and oral exams, court interpreters are paid between $25 to $55 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
