Administrative Office of the United States Courts
District Court Administration Division
NAJIT’s 31st year
May 15-17, 2010
Orlando, Florida
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Will address issues discussed at 2009 NAJIT
meeting.
Statistics on Court Interpreting in the U.S. courts.
The National Court Interpreter Database (NCID).
Federal Court Interpreter Certification Exam
(FCICE).
Boilerplate contract interpreter Terms and
Conditions.
Languages Other than Spanish (LOTS)
Current AOUSC projects.
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Created as a result of the Court
Interpreters Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1827.
Part of the District Court Administration
Division of the Administrative Office of the
United States Courts.
Court Interpreting Events (District Courts)
• Total FY 2008
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282,721
– 113 languages used
Spanish
271,155
Mandarin
1,299
Vietnamese
1,156
Arabic
901
Cantonese
843
Korean
835
Russian
689
Portuguese
588
Mixteco Alto
467
Foochow
389
• Total FY 2009
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313,969
– 120 languages used
Spanish
308,959
Mandarin
1,545
Vietnamese
987
Portuguese
776
Cantonese
733
Korean
618
Russian
594
Arabic
556
Haitian Creole
469
Foochow
467
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Currently considering an RFI (Request for
information).
Help determine what groups of languages
could be addressed.
Will study LOTS needs by language.
Most difficult challenge since the program
began.
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There are currently 98 staff interpreters
in 20 districts.
Staff interpreters cover approximately 67
percent of the events in the District
Courts.
Staff interpreters cover approximately 75
percent of the TIP events.
National Court Interpreter Database
(information as of 5/12/10)
• Interpreters Listed
– Spanish FCCI
• Total Number of Languages
3,718
1,029
151
Currently working to update
information.
 Moving towards a more automated
system.
 Will require an e-mail address.
 Working to create a portal through
USCourts.gov.
 The NCID is not shared outside the
Judiciary.
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Send an e-mail to:
NCID_help@ao.uscourts.gov
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Written Examination in 2010
Registration: April 15, 2010 – June 15, 2010 at
5:00 p.m.
Examination administered: Saturday, August
21, 2010.
34 Locations across the country based on the
needs of the courts for certified interpreters.
Information about the exam is available at:
http://www.ncsconline.org/D_Research/fcic
e_exam/index.htm
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Exposure draft posted in 2009.
Concerns regarding cancellation charges
for lengthy trials.
Based on concerns, incorporated 48 hour
cancellation charge for matters scheduled
for five days or more.
• Certified/Professionally Qualified
• Full day:
• Half day:
• Overtime:
$388
$210
$ 55 (per hour, after 8 hours)
• Language Skilled
• Full day:
• Half day:
• Overtime:
$187
$103
$ 32 (per hour, after 8 hours)
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Court Interpreter Advisory Group (CIAG).
Training for Coordinators for Interpreter
Services, July 2010.
Allow access to updating the NCID records via
uscourts.gov.
Telephone Interpreting Program (TIP) Survey.
Court Interpreter Training Video for Judges.
Evaluation of New TIP Technologies.
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Inconsistencies in the way interpreters are
contracted by the courts.
AO provides policy and guidance.
Courts have discretion.
Training planned for coordinators of interpreting
services in July 2010.
Expecting almost 200 people from 94 courts.
Bob Faurot, Programs Branch Chief
robert_faurot@ao.uscourts.gov
Javier A. Soler, FCCI, Interpreter Program Specialist
javier_soler@ao.uscourts.gov
Carolyn Kinney, PhD., Interpreter Program Specialist
carolyn_kinney@ao.uscourts.gov
Robin E. Cole, Student Intern
robin_cole@ao.uscourts.gov
202-502-1570