COURT INTERPRETER

Spanish Language Court Interpreter

Unclassified position located in State Court of Fulton County

Seeking Spanish language court interpreter

Education and experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in linguistics, cultural issues, criminal justice, public or court administration or related field and one (1) year of experience interpreting in judicial, law enforcement, legal or related field working in a professional capacity with non-English speaking persons in a complex organization where assignments and clients vary, or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the position.

Licensing requirements: Must possess and maintain a valid GA Driver's License.

Veterans' preference: Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans' preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

A Court Interpreter must be certified as an Interpreter by the Georgia Commission on Interpreters.

A Court Certified Interpreter must practice and comply with all methods and modes of interpretation established by the Georgia Supreme Court Rules on the Use of Interpreters and the Georgia Commission on Interpreters and be able to interpret in both consecutive and simultaneous modes of interpretation.

Ability to read, compose, comprehend, and communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in both English and a foreign language; to include translation

Interpret and translate from English and target (foreign) court orders, court notices, petitions, technical, medical, or legal documents certificates, letters, or other materials deemed essential to carry out court proceedings including the re-transcription and retranslation of materials, court petitions, reports, waivers, felony disposition statement forms as deemed necessary

Working knowledge of legal terminology, the Administrative Office of the Courts' operations, policies, practices, and procedures and must adhere to the interpreter Model Code of Professional Responsibility Understand court procedures and processes to ensure accurate information is provided to the public.

Job summary:

Certified Interpreters provides accurate and clear interpretation services in complex matters between English and the target (foreign) for the courts and departments of the Superior Court. Members of this class have attained the interpreter certification credential certified as an Interpreter by the Georgia Commission on Interpreters and are in good standing

Positions in this classification are distinguished from other classifications by the professional language certification achieved through the Georgia Commission on Interpreters.

The Interpreter shall effectively communicate, thoroughly understand what is being communicated, and use interpreter protocols, and ethics, while following procedures and processes to effectively provide interpretation and translation services.

This position is expected to perform day-to-day activities independently within established guidelines and procedures under general supervision. This position reports directly to Court Administration and has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

Essential duties:

Interprets accurately and completely without indicating any personal bias in the translation between English and the foreign language using the three modes of interpretation: simultaneous interpretation, consecutive interpretation and sight translation.

Provides interpretation and linguistic communication services in complex and evidentiary court and probation matters for defendants, clients, witnesses, litigants, and court and probation staff.

Provide assistance based on personal experience and training and knowledge of the language (including idioms and regional phrasing, appropriate language matches for legal and general terminology, numbers names dates and register/style).

Provides interpretation services for complex and evidentiary matters in an impartial manner without regard to the content of the communication in accordance with accepted methods of practice and standards as prescribed by the Colorado Judicial Department Code of Professional Responsibility for Interpreters.

Provides interpretation services and linguistic communication assistance for the more complex and evidentiary types of events such as in-court proceedings, trials, arraignments, hearings, court conferences, plea-bargains or related in-court functions.

Interprets for members of the public, clients, courts, attorneys, social workers or other legal or justice professionals or interviews in providing non-legal general information to the non-English speaking public and may facilitate bilingual communication regarding court matters, forms, dates, etc.

Provide telephonic interpretation services or assistance where required.

Liaises with new defendants and their families to determine requirements for public defense and to secure background information; and supports defendants and their families when they engage with the justice system (bond, visitation, jail policies, etc.).

Protect the confidentiality of all privileged and other confidential information pertaining to court cases and other interpretation and translation assignments

Maintain a professional demeanor, adapt to changing work situations, and remain objective in dealing with irate, emotional, and sometimes stressful situations

Establish and maintaining effective working relationships with the public, staff, and court personnel.

We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including:

Leadership under pressure

• Staying calm and composed during emotionally charged or high-stakes proceedings
• Maintaining control of the interpreting process even when participants are stressed or uncooperative
• Making quick, responsible decisions when unexpected issues arise (e.g., unclear statements, rapid speech, simultaneous conversations)
• Guiding courtroom participants on communication needs while upholding neutrality

Operational planning and execution

• Managing time effectively to prepare for daily dockets, hearings, and case types
• Organizing case-related terminology, documents, and reference materials ahead of proceedings
• Coordinating with judges, clerks, attorneys, and law enforcement to ensure workflow and communication run smoothly
• Executing interpretation duties consistently within legal and procedural requirements

Adaptability and rapid problem solving

• Adjusting quickly to different speakers, dialects, pacing, and courtroom environments
• Resolving misunderstandings or ambiguities on the spot without disrupting proceedings
• Switching between simultaneous, consecutive, or sight translation based on situational need
• Handling unexpected changes such as last-minute case additions, interpreter reassignment, or complex technical language

Team cohesion and communication

• Collaborating effectively with courtroom personnel, including judges, attorneys, and administrative staff
• Communicating clearly to ensure all parties understand interpretation boundaries and requirements
• Demonstrating professionalism and respect to build trust with both colleagues and community members
• Supporting fellow interpreters through shared terminology resources, mentoring, or coverage assistance

Safety and risk awareness

• Maintaining situational awareness in potentially tense or volatile courtroom or detention settings
• Recognizing and responding appropriately to escalated behavior from defendants or witnesses
• Ensuring personal and participant safety during in-person interpretation in secure facilities
• Following county and court protocols for security, confidentiality, and ethical compliance

Technical and equipment proficiency

• Operating interpretation equipment such as headsets, microphones, or remote-interpreter technology
• Using courtroom audio systems and troubleshooting basic technical issues that affect communication
• Navigating digital tools for scheduling, case tracking, or document access
• Maintaining accuracy when using virtual or hybrid hearing platforms

Physical requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk. The employee frequently is required to stand; sit; reach with hands and arms; and perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers; stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific speech requirements include ability to speak audibly, to hear and to stand or sit for extended periods of time. This position often requires the ability to concentrate and to deliver interpreting services under demanding and noisy circumstances. Must have the ability to adjust to differing voices, tones, accents and speed of speech in performing interpretation duties. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Performance metrics:

Factor 1: Decision-Making Comprehends and makes inferences from written material, such as rules of court, state, and federal laws and regulations to determine appropriate actions.

Factor 2: Complexity Considers the country of origin, ethnic group, and level of education of each defendant in order to use the correct dialect. Understands and simultaneously interprets colloquialisms and legal terminology in both Spanish and English