Court looking for interpreters

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Judiciary of Guam is looking for interested individuals in the community who want to participate in the Registered Court Interpreter Program.  Senior Judge Pro Tem Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson is conducting outreaches in hopes to encourage more community participation in the revamped program.  Having been on the bench for the last fourteen years, Barrett-Anderson saw justice delayed with numerous cases due to the lack of available interpreters for defendants. 

She says the new program established registered court interpreters who would be required to comply with a code of conduct. "A court registered interpreter is also an assurance to the judge and the defense attorney and to the defendant that interpreter knows how to do this work in the courtroom," Her Honor explained. "You start with a code of conduct, you train, you select and you have them take an examination. Hopefully, they all pass."

Those interested in the court interpreter program can get an application online at GuamCourts.org. Applications are due by January 31.  The judiciary is seeking interpreters of all languages.