How a Philadelphia judge, a local ATA chapter, and area听interpreters developed a working relationship based on shared strategies that听helped everyone involved build capacity, collaborate on听programs, and support听each other.
Since 1998, the听First Judicial District Court of Pennsylvania has collaborated with multiple听organizations and entities on a variety of initiatives to increase the capacity听of its language access program.
For over 10 years,听Deputy Court Administrator Janet Fasy has dedicated herself to the听dissemination of language access regulations and best practices throughout the听Commonwealth. In 2011, she initiated the听First Judicial District Court听Shadowing Program. The program has developed into a highly effective training听program for court interpreters looking to become certified. It prepares听interpreters for certification with听practical knowledge and experience that is听only available in the courtroom. Participants also benefit from access to the听judiciary, court administrators, and various department representatives who听utilize听interpreters.
The Federal听Judicial District Court reached out to the Delaware Valley Translators听Association (DVTA), an ATA chapter, early in the planning stages to help with听this initiative. As a board member of DVTA听and co-chair of its Programming听Committee, I wanted to learn more about this collaboration and what it听involved. The opportunity to do so presented itself at last year鈥檚 ATA Annual听Conference in Chicago, where听I was fortunate enough to interview members of听DVTA and First Judicial District Court administrators after they shared their听story with attendees during a panel discussion. The panelists were:
- Judge Ida Chen: First Judicial District听Court of Philadelphia, Family Court
- Tony Guerra: DVTA president
- Magdaliz听Roura: Spanish interpreter and program participant. (I鈥檓 pleased to report that听Roura has since received her court certification.)
Judge Chen,听could you provide a brief description of the First Judicial District听Court Shadowing Program? How did you connect with DVTA?
You might say that听our relationship with听DVTA got off to a thunderous start. I听say听this because our initial meeting just听happened听to take place on August 23, 2011,听the day an earthquake hit the East Coast.
We had organized a lunch meeting with Anne Connor, DVTA鈥檚听president at that time, and the rest of听the board at a Philadelphia hotel. The earthquake occurred right in the middle听of it! I听remember saying, 鈥淔orget about the earthquake, let鈥檚 keep on talking听about our subject matter.鈥
This is typical of me. I knew that DVTA could be really helpful, so听I wanted to get to work establishing a relationship that would be mutually听beneficial.
What triggered the idea in your mind about the need for such a听program?
Beginning in 2006, only certified or 鈥渙therwise听qualified interpreters鈥 could work in the courts. But how would you ever be听able to get a good idea of what goes on in the courts unless you have a听chance听to shadow someone?
Do you believe that the preparation offered by the Pennsylvania听Supreme Court鈥檚 Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) is adequate听for students wishing to become certified?
AOPC has a solid, two-day orientation program where听they provide an overview of how the courts work in Pennsylvania. People should听understand, however, that this orientation is not a skills-training program听that would lead automatically to state certification. Nevertheless, I believe听that attending the orientation program is an important part of the process听toward achieving state听certification. I only wish this program was free, since听more people could benefit from attending.
Is there a prerequisite for joining the Shadowing Program?
Well, yes and no.听We prefer candidates to听have already听started the certification process,听since听we would like everyone to be in the听pipeline听to take the examinations. However,听after听signing up, many听people discover that they have overestimated their ability to听handle the job, especially after seeing听how challenging the work is and the ethical requirements and other rules听involved. Our听goal is to give听everyone a good start so that all participants coming out of the program will听be able to achieve certification.
Is there a cost associated with being part of the program?
The Philadelphia courts have generously provided us听with resources to conduct this program without any cost to the participant.听There鈥檚 also no question in my mind that we could not have a听viable program听without the expertise and support of our full-time judiciary听interpreters鈥擩avier Aguilar, Elizabeth Basulto, and Enrique Garc铆a.
What does the program involve?
Participants shadow during the morning听and then attend a free seminar during lunch.听Someone from the public defender鈥檚 office or from the district attorney鈥檚听office is often brought in to talk on a听variety of subjects of interest to听everyone, such as working with defendants in a criminal case or working with听senior citizens who have been abused. Our goal is to acquaint participants with听as many听aspects of working for the judicial system as possible.
Magdaliz,听what kind of commitment was asked of you when you joined the program?
The commitment to the program was for eight months.听Every Wednesday morning we shadowed interpreters in action in family court and听criminal court. There was a series of speakers at听lunchtime who would come and听enlighten us about various subjects, such as how to speak to a judge, how to听ask a speaker to pause in the courtroom, how to interact with the staff, and听matters听relating to ethics.
How many participants shadowed at a particular time?
There were 10 of us听at one time in a courtroom, while another 10 were in another courtroom. We听would switch every month between criminal court and family court to experience听different situations.
Tony,听when were you first approached by Judge Chen?
In November of听2011, DVTA was first consulted about our potential participation in this novel听program by a new board member and good friend to Judge Chen,听Gabriela Jenicek. Subsequent to our听agreeing听to contribute our resources, we arranged听for the now legendary听(鈥渆arth-shattering鈥) lunch meeting where we听discussed the听specifics. Judge Chen听impressed us with her energy, vision, and the听compelling passion听for the program鈥檚 goals.
How does DVTA select contributors听to the program?
Working with DVTA鈥檚听membership chair, we first look at members who are in good standing and who we听can identify as active interpreters (not translators). The application听procedure we set up听ensures that applicants understand the importance and honor听of being selected as a potential candidate, the extent of the commitment听necessary, and the benefits of being involved with this听unique opportunity.
Can you name some of the direct benefits DVTA has brought to the听program?
By working with DVTA, the First Judicial District听Court Shadowing Program has benefitted from our board鈥檚 organizational support,听our extensive geographical reach for resources in and beyond听the Delaware听Valley, and our reputation for attracting high-caliber language professionals听to听our membership.
Has the program attracted new members听to DVTA?
DVTA was not the only resource tapped to provide听participants. Many interpreters who were brought in from other agencies got to听know about DVTA, along with the benefits and professional听opportunities that听come with membership.
As an ATA chapter, do you see ATA eventually playing a role in such听initiatives?
The level of interest and enthusiasm demonstrated by听attendees to our panel presentation at听ATA鈥檚听Annual Conference in Chicago made it very听clear to me that this program could absolutely听serve as a model for other听regions. I knew that ATA could play a pivotal role in facilitating its听deployment and success by offering a platform for us to tell our story.
In what ways do you see DVTA continuing to support the First听Judicial District Court Shadowing Program?
We remain committed to the ongoing support of the听development and visibility of this important initiative through the resources听of our network, through our terrific staff and volunteers, and听through our听dynamic social media presence.
Judge Chen,听any closing thoughts?
One of the reasons I wanted to bring听DVTA鈥檚听involvement with the First Judicial District Court Shadowing Program to听ATA鈥檚听Annual Conference in Chicago was to highlight my belief that the听courts,听working alone, cannot deliver justice to all听litigants. In order to bring about language access throughout the Commonwealth听of Pennsylvania, we needed to collaborate听with DVTA and its many听talented members.
I鈥檓 proud that DVTA is playing听a leadership role in collaborating with the First Judicial District Court to听help its members obtain opportunities in their profession. A considerable听number of听interpreters, including those who have already become certified,听enter the field with no courtroom experience. Programs like this will听effectively help to fill the experience gap for new听interpreters.听聸
Related Links
Delaware Valley Translators Association
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Supreme Court鈥檚 Administrative Office of听Pennsylvania Courts Interpreter Certification Program
Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Interpreter听Resources
Carlota听Dalziel听is a state- and听federally-certified court interpreter who lives in Pennsylvania and works in听the Tri-State area, as well as in Washington, DC and New York City. After听earning a degree in听journalism and working as an English teacher for 20 years听in her native Argentina, her husband鈥檚 job took the family to Belgium, Mexico,听and finally to the U.S., which has been their home for the past听20 years. She听serves on the board of directors of the Delaware Valley Translators Association听and is co-chair of its Programming Committee. In addition to ATA, she is also a听member of the National听Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators.听Contact: rc4dalziel@comcast.net or carlotadalziel@castilconnect.com.