The Interpreter Shortage in Wisconsin Courts

Introduction

As an interpreter with over 22 years of experience, I have witnessed the evolving dynamics within our profession. In Wisconsin, there is a shortage of court-certified interpreters. However, this shortage is not due to a lack of potentially qualified professionals but rather a failure in recruitment efforts and fair compensation practices by court administrations. The only significant recruitment effort I witnessed was when Attorney Ernesto Romero managed the Interpreter Coordinating Office in Milwaukee County. Unfortunately, when the grant for his office ended, so did the recruitment efforts, and in the past 22 years, there has been no comparable effort that I have witnessed.

Decades of Neglect and Current Desperation

Following decades of neglect, court administrations now find themselves perplexed by their inability to recruit new interpreters—a problem caused by their own negligence. In a desperate attempt to avoid paying fair wages to Wisconsin interpreters, some courts have resorted to bringing in interpreters from Illinois and neighboring states. These interpreters often come from states with lower remuneration expectations and standards, exacerbating the issue.

Upholding Professional Standards: A Necessity

It is crucial that our colleagues who come to work in Wisconsin recognize the importance of maintaining and building upon our professional standards. This includes:

Team Interpreting: Essential for ensuring accuracy and preventing fatigue during trials of any length, and hearings lasting more than 30 minutes

Adequate Breaks: Necessary to maintain focus, accuracy and precision in our work. These breaks are needed by both the active and passive interpreter. They should also increase in duration in proportion to the length of the assignment.

Time Between Cases: Vital for reviewing complaints, reports, and other materials to provide accurate interpretations.

Additionally, the practice of case stacking—scheduling multiple cases in a single session without adequate interpreter support—should be fully rejected unless there are 2-3 interpreters available to assist.

The Impact on LEP Community

The people who suffer from these practices are the LEP (Limited English Proficiency) community members who depend on our services. When interpreters are overworked, underpaid, and forego minimal standards, the quality of interpretation declines. This inevitably leads to mistakes which can result in unjust outcomes. LEP individuals depend on accurate interpreting to fully understand and participate in the legal process. It is our duty to ensure that this need is met in accordance with our professional standards and code of ethics.

Pitfalls and How You Can Avoid Them

New interpreters entering a new jurisdiction must be aware of certain pitfalls that can undermine their efforts and the profession at large. Here are three critical areas to watch out for and how to avoid them:

Working Alone on Trials: Refusing to advocate for team interpreting can lead to fatigue and inaccuracy. Always ensure you have a partner for lengthy sessions.

Neglecting Adequate Breaks: Accepting long hours without breaks can compromise your performance. Insist on taking necessary breaks to maintain high-quality interpretations throughout the day.

Accepting Case Stacking: Agreeing to multiple cases back-to-back without adequate support can lead to errors and burnout. Stand firm against such practices and advocate for additional interpreters to be brought in when needed.

Conclusion

The claim of a court-certified interpreter shortage in Wisconsin is a misdirection from the real issues of poor recruitment efforts and low compensation. By standing together and upholding our professional standards, we can ensure that our profession remains strong, and that justice is accessible for all. Let’s continue to maintain the integrity of our work and ensure that every LEP user receives the accurate and fair interpretation services that they deserve. The stakes are high, and it is ultimately the LEP community who pays the price for inadequate interpreting services. Working together with court administrators and supporting each other’s efforts we can ensure equal access to justice for all Wisconsin residents.

Dawn Perez Maldonado was certified by the state court in 2004 and has since built a distinguished career as both a conference and court interpreter. With a wealth of experience interpreting for international delegations, The White House, U.S. Senatorial debates, and the President of the United States, Dawn has established herself as a leading interpreter in high-stakes environments.

In 2002, Dawn founded Bylyngo Interpreting and Translation, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, with other offices around the United States. As the Director, she has led Bylyngo to serve a diverse clientele across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Dawn has leveraged her skills to create complex translation management platforms and manage intricate localization projects.

Currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and IT, Dawn is committed to furthering her knowledge and expertise to drive innovation in the translation and interpreting arena. Her dedication to advancing language access and maintaining high professional standards has made her a respected figure in the interpreting community.