The State of Maine employs 54 qualified court interpreters to help residents with limited English proficiency comprehend criminal, civil, juvenile and family proceedings in the state’s 38 courthouses.

“I feel like I am very much helping the community,” said Farhiya Mahamud, who used to translate documents and interpret for the Somali community at her parents’ store. Now as a certified court interpreter for the State of Maine, Mahamud feels she can make an even greater contribution to her community.

“When I am in court, I can feel that people are very confused. They usually are very frustrated because they don’t know what’s going on. I also can feel the frustration and confusion from English speakers. I feel happy that I can help them all understand what is happening,” she said.

But the certification process to become a certified court interpreter is rigorous. Legal interpreters must be at least 20 years old, have a high school diploma, and be authorized to work in the U.S. They must also clear thorough criminal background checks.

Additionally they must abide by the “Policy Concerning Standards of Professional Conduct for Interpreters Providing Services in Judicial Proceedings.” They must also complete training programs and pass written and/or oral exams to demonstrate their proficiency in a language.

“The English written test was very challenging,” Mahamud said of the exam. “It was 135 questions. I think it took about two hours. I had to study a lot of legal words — a 50-page-long English legal glossary. It took a while to remember all the legal terms that you don’t hear in everyday life. The oral Somali test was much easier.”

The state has been actively working to recruit female language interpreters so women litigants don’t have to express themselves through a male in court, especially in cases of domestic violence.

Mahamud concurred with that assessment.

“I think women are more comfortable and more willing to ask me more questions than they would be with a male interpreter,” she said. “I think with a male they might be a little bit shy and not ask questions that would pop into their heads.”

Mahamud’s experience as a court interpreter has steered her toward a new career. She now plans to take the law school entrance exam so that in few years she can represent members of the Somali community in court rather than simply interpret for them.

Further information on court interpreters may be obtained at the State of Maine’s website.

By Alex Dupont
Marketing Communications Specialist
Language Translation Inc.

See Also

• Legal interpreting requires very specialized education and training. Many states require a special license or certification in order for a person to interpret in court.
  Legal interpreters must be able ?to quickly, completely, and accurately interpret spoken words from one language to another? and have an understanding of basic legal terminology, according to the court system.
• Translating justice: Growing number of interpreters help overcome language barriers in Maine courts Farhiya Mahamud, 28, is one of 54 qualified court interpreters in Maine.
  This group helps people with limited English proficiency comprehend complex legal proceedings in the state?s 38 courthouses.