The Hawai`i State Judiciary's Court Interpreter Certification Program starts on July 1, but the deadline to register for the program is tomorrow.

Application forms can be obtained from the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at 539-4860 or by emailing oeac@courts.state.hi.us.

Interpreters who can interpret in one or more of the following languages are in high demand in the courts: Ilokano, Chuukese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Korean, Tongan, Marshallese, Japanese, American Sign Language, Samoan, Cantonese, Tagalog, Mandarin, and Laotian.

"In many courtrooms, court officials have no way of knowing if an interpreter is competent to interpret for a non-English speaking victim, witness, or defendant," said Debi Tulang-De Silva, Equality and Access to the Courts Coordinator. "By certifying interpreters, the Judiciary is better able to ensure the quality and professionalism of interpreters appointed in its courts across the State."

The Judiciary obtains court interpreters on a freelance basis as independent contractors in criminal or certain civil cases when parties or witnesses have limited English proficiency or are unable to hear, understand, speak or use English sufficiently, a Judiciary news release stated.

The requirements for certification include full completion and acceptance of the certification program application form; successful completion of a two-day orientation workshop; achieving a passing score on a written English proficiency and court interpreter ethics exam; clearing a criminal background check; and achieving a passing score on an oral certification exam in a non-English language.