Court Interpreter (Spanish)

Salary : $95,388.80 - $115,960.00 Annually
Location : Any Sonoma County Court Facilities, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 9278-20260116
Department: Court Interpreters
Division: Court Interpreters
Opening Date: 01/16/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Position Summary
Under general supervision, Court Interpreters provide an essential public service, giving assistance to LEP (limited English Proficiency) parties. They perform a wide variety of language interpretation activities for the court and for parties in proceedings including witnesses, defendants, attorneys and for other court personnel and the public; and perform other job related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single journey level classification. Employees in this classification perform consecutive and simultaneous interpretation of courtroom proceedings and other related interpreting services as needed. Employees in this classification may also perform sight translation (reading written texts and giving an oral translation of text) as needed.

Typical Duties

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work, and should not be considered all-inclusive.

• Interprets from and into English and the applicable non-English language using simultaneous and consecutive modes at court proceedings and for other court-related departments at the direction of the court.
• Provides sight translations for the benefit of the court of documents including, but not limited to, court petitions, reports, waivers, felony disposition statement forms, and other documents.
• Interprets for judges, attorneys, court staff, and other court-related departments at the direction of the court.
• Brings to the court's attention any items that may impede the interpreter's performance.
• Researches and understands legal terminology used in court and functions of the court which may include but not be limited to legal, technological, scientific and/or medical terminology.
• Receives daily calendar assignments from the Trial Court Interpreter Coordinator or
• Supervisor and accurately completes daily activity logs or other documentation as required.
• Performs other language interpretation duties as assigned, such as providing general court information at an information counter to the non- English speaking public and processes documents related to interpretation.

Qualifications
Certification: Possess and maintain a valid certificate as a "Certified Court Interpreter" issued by the Judicial Council of California on behalf of the State of California.
Other Requirements: A valid Class C California driver's license may be required to be eligible for consideration for certain assignments.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

• Interpreter ethics and professional standards, as stipulated in California Rules of Court, Rule 2.890 Professional Conduct of Interpreters.
• Correct usage of grammar and vocabulary of English and non-English language; wide range of vocabulary in English and the non-English language, including high and low registers including high and low registers.
• Legal concepts and forensic terminology in both English and non-English language as specified.

Ability to:

• Orally convey the meaning from and into English and the applicable non-English language by interpreting in the simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modes; the meaning must be conveyed accurately, not editing, summarizing, adding meaning, or omitting
• Concentrate and deliver accurate and complete interpreting services in a busy and fast-paced environment.
• Adjust to speakers with differing voices and accents at varying rates of speed.
• Adhere to California statutes, rules of court and applicable personnel rules concerning court interpretation.
• Travel within the county to offsite court facilities as needed for assignment.
• Interact professionally and cooperatively with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to use office equipment, including computer, telephone, and copiers and/or transmitter and receiver equipment provided by the court for simultaneous interpretation.

Process to Apply

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS


These positions typically work in an indoor, courtroom and/or office setting. Typical duties require the ability to sit and/or stand and concentrate for extended periods; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; hearing to understand conversations when background noise is present and to communicate with the public and court staff.

Working Environment: Work is performed in the courtroom and related court facilities and includes but is not limited to contact with judges, staff attorneys, and the public. The position requires the ability to concentrate and deliver interpreting services in a busy and fast-paced environment. Courtroom interpreting requires the ability to adjust to speakers with differing voices and accents at varying rates of speed. Interpreters come into contact with a wide variety of people from differing educational and economic backgrounds.


Work may include exposure to disturbing evidence and testimony. Graphic photographs of traumatic events such as murder or domestic violence, evidence such as syringes, drugs, chemicals, bodily fluids, and stained clothing. Tolerate exposure to allergens such as perfumes, dust, and various unpleasant odors such as unwashed clothing or persons or other materials.
Please note, all benefits for Part-Time employment are pro-ratedRetirement Plan:
Participation in the Sonoma County Employee's Retirement Association (SCERA), a 1937 Act Retirement Plan based on PEPRA. The 2025/26 mandatory contribution is 7.7% for employees and 29.9% for the Court. This is a defined benefit plan fully integrated with Social Security.

Vacation Leave:
Regular, full-time employees in benefit unit 02 on paid status accrue vacation at a rate of 3.5 hours per pay period for the first two years (a little over 2 weeks and 1 day each year), with incremental increases to the accrual rate each year through year 5 and additional increases every 5 years thereafter, to year 20. Maximum accrual balance is 376 hours.

Sick Leave:
12 days per year with no limit on accumulation.


Holidays:
14 paid fixed holidays per year, plus 24 miscellaneous floating holiday hours, granted via compensatory time off.

Insurance:
Family vision care, family Dental care as well as employee short and long term disability plans, are fully paid by the Court. Choice of three health plans: Health Net PPO, Health Net HMO, and a Kaiser Permanente HMO plan. The Court's contribution is currently 92% of the premium for the health plan selected.

Life Insurance
$50,000 Term Life Insurance is provided by the Court; additional life insurance may be purchased by the employee.
Deferred Compensation:
Employees may contribute a portion of their salary into a 457 Deferred Compensation account (up to the IRS annual maximum).

Dependent and Medical Care Assistance Programs:
Employees may participate in these tax exempt programs which allow certain personal expenses to be paid from pre-tax salary.

Employee Assistance Program
01


Fluency in a language other than English (speaking, reading, and writing) is required to be eligible for this position. Please indicate the language for which you have fluency.
02


This position requires certification as a Court Interpreter by the Judicial Council of California on behalf of the State of California. Do you meet this qualification? (A "No" answer to this question will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

03


Please provide your Court Interpreter certificate number. Type "NA" if you are not certified. (Lack of certification will disqualify you from this recruitment.)
04


Please list any courts and other agencies for which you have previously provided simultaneous interpretation services. Include dates of work and names of the coordinators at each court or agency.
05


Have you ever been subject to discipline for violation of Interpreter Code of Ethics or Court policies? If yes, please describe the circumstances.
06


Describe your experience and skills interpreting from and into English from your additional language of fluency using simultaneous and consecutive modes.
Required Question