Interpreters are of fundamental importance in legal settings. These professionals convert sign language or speech into another language in real time. Legal Interpreters translate the legal documents into a language that participants can understand. Most of the time simultaneous interpreting is carried out in the court, where the client and ASL interpreter wear a set of headphones along with a microphone and the interpreter does its work via wireless connectivity. Consecutive interpreting in the courtroom also takes place where the interpreter needs to wait until the sentence of the speaker ends. Sometimes consecutive speakers note down the speech to recall what was exactly said. The role of the interpreter is to convey accurate statements and also the tone and style of the speaker.
Legal Interpreting Skills
Interpreting in a courtroom can be a stressful profession. The interpreter needs the training to understand interpreting techniques and must have knowledge about the legal system, the language used in legal work, and litigation tactics. ASL interpreter is available during the proceedings, arraignments, meetings, and depositions to assist and make communication easy for people who lack proficiency in English.
Fluency in the Language
It is important for a court interpreter to be fluent in a language other than English. The court interpreter needs to be proficient in legal terminology and protocol. The legal interpreter must also be comfortable with the legal jargon.
Exercise Swift & Unbiased Judgment
The court interpreter must be quick to handle any issues whether it is ethical or linguistic because these issues arise undoubtedly. It is an important skill for a legal interpreter. He/she must know when to bring an issue in front of the court so it can be pointed out and the court interpreter must know to solve a problem.
Impeccable speaking skills
The court interpreter must have outstanding speaking skills. The legal interpreter should be able to overcome emotion during work. In many cases, testimony may be shocking and should not shock while conveying the information. The legal interpreter must abstain from expressing opinions and should not take express his feelings while interpreting.
Importance of Legal Interpreters in the courtroom
Court Interpreters ensure a fair outcome in the courtroom by assisting the prosecution as well as the accused.
Safeguarding the Accused
It is important for an accused to understand the charges levied on him/her. The accused must know the charges and the proceedings. International law entitles this right to the accused person. For facilitating, simultaneous interpretation was introduced that uses a microphone and headsets so that everyone can understand the proceedings.
Aiding the State
Legal interpreting assists in the protection of defendants and language access help in law enforcement by the state. Sometimes accused is overturned on appeal in spite of being charged as guilty due to the quality and availability of court interpreting services.
What is the impact when the access of an ASL interpreter is denied?
Legal interpreting cannot be counted as a luxury and it is a requirement of the courtroom. When interpreter access is denied then fair trials and justice change into a bizarre experience for the charged person. It is possible that innocent people get imprisonment and the guilty person is set free. This makes the legal system unfair and less safe for society.
Now we believe these points would help people stay aware of the importance of ASL interpreters in the courtroom. We would like to hear from our readers about what they think and help this information to reach the concerned people.
