September 9, 2024 – Message from NAJIT Board of Directors: The NAJIT Board issued a public statement addressing a recent communication regarding a letter sent by one of our directors to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. This letter, which circulated on social media, included personal opinions that may have been mistaken for NAJIT’s official stance. We want to clarify that these views were personal and do not represent NAJIT. The Board remains committed to upholding professionalism and respect for all interpreters. We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your ongoing support. Click the icon to the right to read NAJIT’s public statement.

September 1, 2024 – NAJIT Provides Essential Feedback on Proposed 2025-2026 Interpreter Payment Policy for King County Municipal Courts: NAJIT has taken a stand by delivering insightful feedback to the King County Municipal Courts on their proposed 2025-2026 Interpreter Payment Policy. This initiative underscores our commitment to advocating for fair compensation and ensuring equitable access to justice for interpreters within the legal system. Click the icon to the right to read the feedback that as submitted.

August 17, 2024 – Joint Letter to Maryland Judiciary: Advocating for Fair Language Access in Court Proceedings! NAJIT, in collaboration with ATA, VALIA, APPTI, RID, and ALC, has submitted a joint letter to the Maryland Judiciary expressing concerns about proposed changes to Rule 1-333(c)(4). Our letter emphasizes the critical need for team interpreting to ensure accurate and fair language access in court proceedings. Click the icon to the right to read our recommendations and the potential impact on justice.

August 16, 2024 – Joint Response from NAJIT and Leading Associations on Ethical Communication Practices in Legal Settings: NAJIT, in collaboration with CCHI, ALC, ATA, and RID, has issued a joint response to a recent article on client communication strategies for non-English speakers. We invite you to read our letter, which underscores the importance of using qualified interpreters in legal settings to ensure effective and ethical communication. Click the icon to he right to read the letter.

August, 8 2024 – Unveiling NAJIT’s Case Statement for 2024-25: The Board of Directors proudly presents NAJIT’s 2024-2025 Case Statement to our membership and constituents, inviting everyone to join us in driving innovation and advancing the profession. The Case Statement outlines our commitment to enhancing technological resources, optimizing volunteer engagement, and expanding educational outreach to ensure professional excellence and equal access to justice. Click the icon to the right to read the case statement.

July 26, 2024 – Supporting Language Justice: NAJIT’s Endorsement of the ACLU Petition: The NAJIT Board of Directors has sent a letter supporting the Petition for Rulemaking filed by the ACLU and other organizations on April 15, 2024. The petition urges the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to establish regulations for providing interpreters to noncitizens with affirmative asylum applications. NAJIT highlights the inadequate language access and disproportionate impact on LEP applicants under the current requirements, emphasizing the need for competent interpreters to ensure equal access to justice. Click the icon to the right to read NAJITs letter.

April 15, 2024 – NAJIT Advocates for Enhanced Court Interpreter Services in South Carolina: NAJIT is committed to promoting professional standards and equitable access to justice for individuals with limited English proficiency. NAJIT’s Advocacy Committee wrote to Chief Justice Beatty of South Carolina to outline recommendations for enhancing court interpreter services, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing certified interpreters, revising policies to ensure equitable treatment, and adopting best practices to uphold language access and equitable justice for all. Click the icon to the right to read NAJITs letter.

February 15,2024:  NAJIT & ATA Stand United Again for New Mexico Court Interpreters! Hot on the heels of our recent joint effort, the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) and the American Translators Association (ATA) are back at it, doubling down on our support for New Mexico court interpreters!

Click the icon to the right to read the most recent letter addressed to Director Arthur W. Pepin of the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts. We’re pushing for better compensation and working conditions, ensuring that these crucial professionals get the recognition and fair treatment they deserve.

January 2024: NAJIT Stands in Support of NJ Bill for Language Access (S.2459/A.3837) The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) proudly supports Bill S.2459/A.3837, which is currently under consideration by the New Jersey State Assembly. The proposed amendments aim to mandate state agencies to translate “vital documents” into the seven languages spoken by most Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals in New Jersey. Additionally, the bill calls for live interpreting services for all languages, whether in person or remotely; these provisions signify a significant stride towards providing meaningful access to state services and benefits for LEP individuals in the state. Click the icon to the right to read NAJITs statement.

**UPDATE** JANUARY 12: Governor Phil Murphy signed this bill into law, ensuring that vital documents and services are accessible in the seven most common languages spoken in New Jersey. This achievement marks a significant milestone in promoting inclusivity and language accessibility, showcasing the impact of collaborative advocacy in driving meaningful legislative change. READ MORE

January 2024: Advocating for improved compensation and working conditions in Minnesota! The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) and the American Translators Association (ATA) extended their unwavering support to the dedicated court interpreters working in Minnesota who are advocating for improved compensation and working conditions.

October 2023: Advocating for Fair Compensation! NAJIT’s Board of Directors has penned a crucial letter addressing recent changes in interpreter payment policies at the King County District Court. We’re committed to ensuring equitable access to justice for communities with limited English proficiency. Join us in urging the court to reconsider and rectify these changes, ensuring fair compensation for interpreters and maintaining access to justice. Together, we can make a difference!

September 2023: NAJIT wrote to two California Senators, Senator Brian Jones and Senator Anthony J. Portantino, expressing opposition to AB 1032, a bill that could have negative repercussions for court interpreters in California and the individuals within the justice system who depend on language assistance due to limited English proficiency. NAJIT joined in the support of the Coalition of Working California Court Interpreters, the American Translators Association, and indigenous Mayan-language relay and direct interpreters in their opposition to AB 1032. Click the icon on the right to read the letter.

September 30, 2023: The NAJIT Board of Directors is happy to support and participate in the Northwest Translators and Interpreters Society’s 2023 Annual Conference in honor of International Translation Day. This lively event brings together translation & interpretation professionals throughout the Pacific Northwest. Make sure to stop by our exhibit table.

Refer a new NAJIT member while attending the NOTIS 2023 Conference and receive a polo! The new member receives $25 off the regular membership dues, and you receive a free NAJIT polo for your efforts. Come on out and celebrate with us on September 30. See you there!

August 2023: NAJIT responds to the invitation from the Indiana Language Access Coordinator’s Office seeking public comments on proposed revisions to court interpreter policies: As advocates for excellence and recognition in our field, we’ve noted some concerns and made strategic recommendations to ensure fair qualifications and payment standards. We are always on the lookout for opportunities like this to make a positive impact on the future of court interpreting! Click the icon to the right to read the letter.

June 2023 – Advocacy in Action: NAJIT has just responded to the invitation from the Minnesota Courts Administrator’s Office seeking public comments on proposed revisions to court interpreter policies. As advocates for excellence and recognition in our field, we’ve expressed our concerns and recommendations to ensure fair qualifications and payment standards. Click the icon on the right to view the letter. Together, let’s make a positive impact on the future of court interpreting! 

June 2023 – Advocacy in Action: The NAJIT Board of Directors continues our commitment to support our professionals by helping them advocate for working conditions and compensation commensurate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for this vital job. We were happy, once again, to support the efforts of our state interpreter colleagues from Nebraska.

2023 NAJIT Election Results: Congratulations to the 2023 Board of Directors. The NAJIT Board welcomes Nattalia Paterson, PhD, and Andreea Boscor. The Board has elected Laura McGilvra as the Chair of the Board, Anahit Flanagan as Vice Chair, Francesca Samuel as Treasurer, and Andreea Boscor as Secretary. We extend our sincere appreciation to our outgoing board members Javier Castillo, Jr. and Hilda Zavala-Shymanik. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to both NAJIT and the profession. Please join us in wishing them the very best in their future endeavors. Click the picture on the right for more details and contact information.

May 2023 – Advocacy in Action: The Public Defender’s Office of the Hudson region of NJ approached NAJIT about an urgent matter related to the application of remote interpreting during the State versus Juracan-Juracan jury trial. In a brief filed to the NJ Supreme Court, attorneys argued and received a stay of the trial, pending the motion based on matters of court interpretation.

NAJIT joined the ACLU and collaborated on a brief with the American Translators Association to inform the court based on our collective specialized expertise. The NAJIT Board of Directors is proud that our association continues to be the sought-after authority in all matters related to judiciary interpreting. We are happy to answer that call and thank the incredible NAJIT members who made up the project team. Please read the entire brief and stay tuned for future developments on this potentially precedence-setting case.

**UPDATE** August 2023: “Making a Difference: NAJIT Takes a Stand in Landmark Case related to Remote Interpreting“

May 2023 – Advocacy in Action: In a recent letter sent to the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), NAJIT offered invaluable insights and recommendations to enhance language access within the immigration courts. NAJIT’s extensive expertise and recommendations aim to ensure equal access and justice for limited English-proficient individuals within the immigration court system. By implementing these suggestions, EOIR can significantly enhance language access and uphold the promises of equal opportunity for all. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from NAJIT as we continue to champion the cause of language professionals nationwide. Click the icon on the right to view the letter.

April 2023: The NAJIT Leadership team wants our members to be on the lookout for a scam specifically targeting interpreters and translators. We always urge our members to err on the side of caution when receiving unsolicited leads or other benefits connected to the annual NAJIT conference. Many of these spam messages have subject lines that read “RE: [email address] – NAJIT Leads Package” or something similar. Safeguarding our members’ interests is a top priority and we will continue to bring these situations to your attention as we encounter them. View an example of the scam by clicking the icon to the right.

April 2023: NAJIT board member and Secretary, Laura McGilvra, was invited to participate and represent NAJIT in Multi Languages Corporation’s: “Code of Ethics: The Language of Professionalism and Integrity Virtual Panel”. Participation in events that help influence the profession is a high priority for the Board of Directors. You can access the full video of the panel by click the picture to the right.

Prior NAJIT Chair, Janis Palma also participated in this webinar series representing NAJIT in March. Here is a link to that video.

October 2022: Welcome new Proteus Editor-in-Chief – The Board welcomes Arianna Aguilar to the position of Editor-in-Chief of Proteus, NAJIT’s quarterly newsletter. A longtime member of NAJIT, Arianna has served as Editor-in-Chief of Proteus and as an editor. You can email Arianna with comments or ideas for submissions at Proteus_editor@najit.org.

Advocacy in Action: The NAJIT Board of Directors continues our commitment to support our professionals by helping them advocate for working conditions and compensation commensurate with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required for this vital job. We were happy to support the efforts of our federal interpreter colleagues as well as our state interpreter colleagues from Nebraska with the letters linked below.

Much more work needs to be done but as recent developments such as the pay increase in North Carolina and the one recently announced by Nevada have shown, supporting your association helps NAJIT leverage our standing among all stakeholders to help effect change. This is underscored by the second response from the American Bar Association. Your support makes a difference.

The board also wishes to thank the Advocacy committee once again under the leadership of Sandro Tomasi and Robert Joe Lee for their great work! We are always stronger together.

September 27, 2022 – Letter to North Carolina Courts: The NAJIT Board of Directors continued our advocacy efforts with a letter to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts promoting commensurate compensation for interpreters written by the NAJIT Advocacy Committee. Click the icon on the right to view the letter.

September 27, 2022 – Follow-up letter to the American Bar Association (ABA): NAJIT provided a letter of comment to the ABA, last October, and subsequently provided additional material as a follow-up to the ABA’s response to our original comments regarding ABA500. We will continue to leverage NAJIT’s position and reputation to tirelessly support our members and our professions. Click the icon on the right to view the letter.

September 20, 2022 – Letter to Nevada Courts: The NAJIT Board of Directors continued our advocacy efforts with a letter to the Nevada Court Administration Office of the Eighth Judicial District Court promoting commensurate compensation for interpreters written by the NAJIT Advocacy Committee. Click the icon on the right to view the letter.

June 4, 2022 – NAJIT Bylaws Amended: The NAJIT Board is happy to share that the proposed bylaw amendments were successfully adopted by the membership during the Annual Meeting of Members on June 4, 2022. Read the original announcement and proposed amendments here. NAJIT’s updated Bylaws are available on the NAJIT website, under the NAJIT menu heading.

-June 4, 2022 – 2022 NAJIT Election Results: Congratulations to the 2022 Board of Directors. The NAJIT Board welcomes Anahit Flanagan PhD, Laura McGilvra, and Francesca Samuel. The Board has elected Javier Castillo as the Chair of the Board, Hilda Zavala-Shymanik as Vice Chair, Francesca Samuel as Treasurer, and Laura McGilvra as Secretary. We extend our sincere appreciation to our outgoing board members Aimee Benavides, Janis Palma, and Teresa Salazar. Thank you all for successfully navigating NAJIT through extraordinary and unprecedented times. Please join us in wishing them the very best in their future endeavors. Click the picture on the right for more details and contact information.

May 1, 2022 – NAJIT Conference Scholarship Winners: The NAJIT Board is happy to announce the 2022 NAJIT Scholarship winners. Click the image to the right to view all five scholarship recipients.

February 2022 – Amici Curiae: NAJIT cosigned an Amici Curiae before the National Labor Relations Board along with a dozen other organizations. The brief is in support of independent contractor work continuing to be a legally protected option. Follow the link below to read the brief in its entirety. If it resonates with you, tell everyone, ”This brief speaks for me.” Amplify our messaging by sharing the brief using the link below on social media using the hashtag #readthebrief. Other ways to amplify the message include sending the press release to the media, submitting op-ed pieces to your local outlets, and sharing the brief along with your concerns to your elected representatives. According to experts, everyday citizens filing an amicus brief is ”unprecedented.” Let’s use this moment to make our voices heard. Click the icon to the right to access the document. 

January 2022 – New NAJIT Position Paper: The NAJIT Board of Directors is proud to publish a new position paper, “Recommendations Concerning Digital Communication Using Emoji in Legal and Medical Interpreting”. The purpose of this paper is to define what emoticons, emoji, smileys, and stickers are, and to underscore the notion that deciphering the meaning of these symbols can be much more problematic than it appears to be at first glance. This is of particular importance in high-stakes settings such as medical and legal interpreting encounters where any misinterpretation of these elements can have grave consequences. We thank all the authors for this timely and generous addition to the NAJIT Position Paper library. Click the icon on the right to view the NAJIT Position Paper and White Paper web page. 

January 8, 2022 – The Board sponsored another Town Hall meeting that was very well attended. The main concern expressed by almost everyone present was the absence of uniform standards for remote interpreting in court settings. Many courts are using the wrong technology or underusing the platforms they do have by failing to enable the simultaneous interpreting function, thereby forcing interpreters to work in the consecutive mode exclusively, sometimes alone, even for proceedings in which this is not the best practice. The lack of team interpreting practices continues to be a big concern, as well. The Board members reminded those in attendance that we have a page on our website with resources they can use to educate their respective court administrators, judges and other stakeholders about best practices for interpreters. It is also each individual practitioner’s responsibility to accept or reject work assignments and conditions that do not meet the minimum standards for our profession. We are all in this together.

November 2021 – Two new NAJIT White Papers – NAJIT is excited to share our two recently published white papers. These white papers are part of our continued effort to inform and educate stakeholders on the complexities and nuances of judiciary interpreting as well as offering the most effective practices. The first, “Interpreter Certification Tiers: Implications for the Administration of Justice’‘ addresses what certification is, outlines the different certification tiers and their impact on the administration of justice and ways to ensure that the most qualified interpreters are sought first. The second, “What is a Certified Judiciary Interpreter” addresses judiciary interpreter certification and the differences between certified and non-certified judiciary interpreters. It delves into the purpose of the oral and written portions of the certification exams as well as the skills necessary to achieve certification. Both papers also offer a robust resources section for those who wish to explore the topics further. Click the icon on the right to view the NAJIT Position Paper and White Paper web page. 

November 2021 – New NAJIT Position Paper – Consecutive Interpreting at the Witness Stand: why it should always be the only mode used. This Position Paper addresses the underlying rationale in The Court Interpreters Act, paragraph (K) which provides, “The interpretation provided by certified or otherwise qualified interpreters pursuant to this section shall be in the simultaneous mode for any party to a judicial proceeding instituted by the United States and in the consecutive mode for witnesses, …” It also addresses important considerations such as lost Information on direct and cross-examination, the impact of simultaneous on witness comprehension of questions, loss of coherence, the significance of the consecutive mode as well as other factors that inform this conclusion. Click the icon on the right to access the NAJIT Position Paper web page.

October 29 – NAJIT Chair, Janis Palma, joined the Training and Education Committee Chair, Francesca Samuel, in the EDU Summit held during the ATA Conference. NAJIT has joined this new coalition of interpreter and translator educators.

October 26, 2021 – The NAJIT Board wrote letters to three representatives of the ABA and the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility in response to the recently published Formal Opinion 500, Language Access in the Client-Lawyer Relationship. NAJIT urged the ABA and the Committee to seriously consider revisiting the Opinion and give professional interpreters and translators a seat at the table as was done with the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigence Defense project, “Laying the Path”, which resulted in the seminal document, “ABA Standards for Language Access in Courts”. The letters were mailed to Lynda Shely, Esq., Committee Chair, Mary McDermott, Esq., Lead Senior Counsel, Center For Professional Responsibility, and Reginald M. Turner, Esq., President, American Bar Association. Click the icon on the right to read the letter.

October 12, 2021 – In NAJIT’s ongoing effort to assist new interpreters and translators, a second video has been added to the NAJIT YouTube Channel. This video is titled “A Primer for Interpreters”. Click the link on the right to watch the 10-minute video.

September 25 – NAJIT was a sponsor of the Arizona Translators and Interpreters (ATI) Annual Conference. During the event, NAJIT Chair, Janis Palma, participated in a panel titled “Panel of Experts: State of the Profession”, which included Esther M. Hermida, AAPTI President, David Svoboda, Language Access Coordinator for the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, and Edna Santizo representing the ATA Spanish Language Division.

September 1, 2021 – NAJIT’s mission is to promote continuing excellence and ensure professional recognition for judiciary interpreters and translators by advocating, upholding, and safeguarding the highest professional standards. In keeping with our mission, NAJIT continues to serve as the authoritative resource for all stakeholders who interact with judiciary interpreters and translators. We welcome that responsibility and believe that employing the best and most effective practices when legal interpretation or translation is employed is crucial to the fair dispensation of justice. NAJIT has created a dedicated web page called Resources for the Judiciary where we have provided links in one easy-to-find place that includes NAJIT position papers, guidelines, infographics, and numerous other resources to serve all language access stakeholders. We know that this page will be useful to our entire legal community.

August 19, 2021 – The Board of Directors will host virtual town hall meetings quarterly open to members and non members. In these interactive meetings, the Board will share current NAJIT objectives and listen to comments from those in attendance. This event is part of the NAJIT Board of Directors’ broader initiative to be more accessible and provide additional opportunities for members of the profession to interact with the entire NAJIT Board. We hope you will join us. Click the icon on the right to access the NAJIT calendar to view the schedule and registration links.

August 27, 2021 – NAJIT was proud to co-sign a letter to President Biden authored by CCHI expressing “deep concern about the humanitarian crisis that is currently unfolding.” Click the icon on the right to read the letter.

August 20, 2021 – In NAJIT’s ongoing effort to assist new interpreters and translators, a new video has been added to the NAJIT YouTube Channel. This video is titled “How to become a certified court interpreter”. Click the link on the right to watch the 18-minute video.

July 26, 2021 – NAJIT submitted a request for the Honorable Supreme Court of California to hear the appeal in the case of Edward Kim, Ginnie Cho, Seung K. Kang and GNE Property Management, Inc., A California Corporation v. Helen Lee and Young Hee Kim, and carefully consider the critical issue of using uncertified and unqualified interpreters in lieu of certified and qualified interpreters, and the injurious consequences of that practice on persons coming before the state courts with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Click the icon on the right to read the message.

July 2021: The Summer Issue of Proteus is hot off the presses! A message from the newly appointed NAJIT Chair, Janis Palma, was included in the issue. Click the icon on the right to read the message.

June 21, 2021 – The NAJIT Board submitted comments to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts on amendments being considered to the regulations for court interpreters that synthesize the regulations with the Language Access Plan for the Unified Judicial System. Click the icon on the right to read the letter and supporting documents.

March 8, 2021– The NAJIT Board of Directors is pleased to announce that longtime NAJIT member, Holly Mikkelson, has been granted a NAJIT Lifetime Membership as prescribed by the NAJIT bylaws. The response from members in support was tremendous. We thank Holly wholeheartedly for all the work she has done on behalf of the interpreting and translation professions, particularly for judiciary interpreters.

March 8, 2021– The NAJIT Board has written a letter urging all public health officials as well as court administrators who employ and contract with interpreters to explicitly include on-site court interpreters among the listed groups of personnel for Phase 1 vaccinations. Click the icon on the right to read the letter.

March 8, 2021 – During the February Board of Directors meeting, a motion was presented to add some discounts to the Association’s current dues. As reflected in the minutes, the Board completed the discussion of the motion by email, and have now unanimously approved the following permanent discounted rates for NAJIT members under the following categories:

Active Member 3-year renewal – $330 (a savings of $15/year, or a total of $45)

Household Discount – 2 active members (living at the same address) $215 (a savings of $35 for both)

Click the icon on the right to read the entire email announcement.

March 5, 2021 – A recent news report identified a subcontractor working as a translator for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in California who was arrested for disclosing confidential information about an ongoing DEA investigation. In response to this report, the NAJIT Board of Directors has sent official letters to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the DEA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California stating our position against the practice of contracting language services through low-bidding companies that employ interpreters and translators who do not have the proper qualifications and experience. This letter is also available on the NAJIT Advocacy page. You can also click the icon on the right to read the letter.

February 18, 2021 – The NAJIT Board of Directors drafted a statement against reductions in minimum hours for remote interpreting. Click the icon on the right to read the full statement.

February 18, 2021 – The NAJIT Board of Directors drafted a statement against reductions in minimum hours for remote interpreting. Click the icon on the right to read the full statement.

February 16, 2021 – The NAJIT Board of Directors has drafted and submitted comments in response to the California Judicial Council’s Recommended Guidelines and Minimum Specifications for Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) for Spoken Language Interpreted Events. These guidelines are proposed as both a current and post-pandemic guideline for providing remote interpreting for court proceedings. Click the icon on the right to read the comments that were submitted.

February 10, 2021 – The NAJIT Board of Directors sent a call to action to courts regarding the importance of interpreter safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the icon on the right to read the letter.

February 3, 2021 – In the Board’s ongoing effort for greater transparency of governance and Board activities, the following policy “Role of the Chair” is being made available for members to view in the governance section of the NAJIT website member portal. Any future changes to this policy must be promptly shared with membership. Click the icon on the right to read the new policy.

February 2, 2021 – The NAJIT Bench and Bar Committee has created a resource that every court and law firm should have at hand when providing language access to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals through an interpreter. It is a step by step guide on how to verify interpreter credentials to assure proper language services. Click the icon on the right to view the resource.