Kick off 2025 with The Observer! Reflecting on a year of growth and community, we share highlights from 2024, exciting plans for the year ahead, and a heartfelt message of gratitude. Join us in celebrating the power of connection and setting intentions for a successful year together.

Discover the importance of the LEP's right to 'hear everything' in court and understand the judiciary interpreter's role in ensuring fair proceedings. Learn how interpreting every detail can impact cognitive load and the implications for legal practice.

Discover NAJIT’s vibrant community with new Editor-in-Chief, Julli Jaramillo, leading engaging content on The NAJIT Observer. Meet the team, explore new series like 'Ethics Corner' and 'The Couch,' and stay informed on global legal and cultural insights. Join us for inspiration, learning, and connection.

There’s something we never want to talk about. Not unless it comes knocking on our door. But lately, it’s been knocking on many people’s doors, people I know, people I don’t know, one right after the other: mothers, fathers, leaving us grown children orphaned and disoriented. They were an anchor we never knew was there until it was suddenly lifted and gone. Maybe that’s why we don’t talk about it. Death is like a Beetlejuice incantation: say it three times and it will appear.

Let me begin with a disclaimer: documentation about the early codes of ethics for judiciary interpreters, also called codes of professional responsibility, is scant or lost altogether. I am writing mostly from memory and some documents I have been able to track down, which means... The post A history of the code of ethics for judiciary interpreters appeared first on NAJIT.

The United States District Courts and Circuit Courts of Appeal have said time and again very clearly that Limited English Proficient (LEP) criminal defendants have a right to understand. This is the only reason for interpreters to have a significant place in the U.S. system... The post One more reason why the judiciary interpreters code of professional responsibility needs to be revised appeared first on NAJIT.

I have to be really honest. Every time I hear about a problem here or there with some client or court who does not want to pay a fair compensation to the interpreter, or someone wondering why the interpreter needs to prep for an assignment... The post R-E-S-P-E-C-T appeared first on NAJIT.

In most states, a bilingual individual who wishes to be on the court’s roster of qualified interpreters must meet certain requirements. These are not whimsical or random requirements. The first one is usually an orientation seminar about the court system in the state where the... The post Did you say you wanted a volunteer interpreter, Your Honor? appeared first on NAJIT.

I have been turning this question around in my head for a while, since someone raised the question in a social media exchange: am I advocating for interpreters? Or am I advocating for the LEPs we serve? And I just have to wonder, can we... The post When we advocate for interpreters, are we not also advocating for the LEP population? appeared first on NAJIT.