Court Interpreting Fundamentals

This foundational training provides a comprehensive orientation for individuals preparing to serve as court interpreters. Through in-depth guidance on ethical conduct, interpreter roles, courtroom protocol, interpreting modes, and communication techniques, participants will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to operate professionally within the judicial system. Emphasis is placed on maintaining impartiality, handling challenging interactions, using appropriate linguistic register, managing stress, and upholding the integrity of the court process. Practical insights, examples, and guidance on expected demeanor and responsibilities help ensure interpreters are well-prepared for real-life courtroom dynamics.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the primary role and ethical obligations of a court interpreter
• Explain the importance of neutrality and professional distance in legal settings
• Demonstrate understanding of courtroom protocol and interpreter conduct
• Describe and distinguish between simultaneous, consecutive, and sight translation modes
• Recognize appropriate responses to common courtroom challenges (e.g., unclear speech, fatigue, emotional content)
• Apply note-taking and memory techniques suitable for interpreting in legal proceedings
• Communicate effectively using the correct grammatical person and register
• Describe the code of ethics and how it guides interpreter behavior
• Identify situations that require disqualification or disclosure of conflict of interest
• Prepare for court interpreting assignments with appropriate terminology, attire, and professionalism

Presenter:

Graciela Zozaya brings with her over 30 years of experience in language access, with specific focus in the healthcare and legal fields, including her roles as a patient advocate and interpreter for Texas Children’s Hospital, Manager of the Language Access Program at Harris Health System, interpreter and translator for court proceedings, and a manager of the translation department for Lopez Negrete Communications, the largest Hispanic-focused advertising agency in the US. Graciela has also created her own training tracks for medical and court interpreters and has been providing training for the past 12 years. She has been invited to teach some of her own training courses at the University of Houston – Downtown campus.

Active in the professional community, Graciela served as Director of Professional Development for the Texas Association of Healthcare Interpreters and Translators (TAHIT), as Treasurer and later as Vice President of the board of the Houston Interpreters and Translators Association (HITA), and held the positions of Director, Vice Chair and Interim Chair for the National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI).

Originally from Mexico City, Graciela has lived in the Houston area for over 25 years. She is a Certified Medical Interpreter, a Master Licensed Court Interpreter and an ATA Certified Translator and is fluent in both English and Spanish.