NEWS RELEASE

The National Center for State Courts
300 Newport Avenue · Williamsburg, Virginia  23185

Contact:
Lorri Montgomery
Communications Manager
The National Center for State Courts
757.259.1525 or lmontgomery@ncsc.dni.us 

Conference Puts Language Skills on National Agenda
Local Organization Represents Interests of Courts

Williamsburg, VA (July 29, 2004) – A national commitment to increasing proficiency in foreign languages was recognized by attendees to the National Language Conference June 22-24.

William Hewitt, principal court research consultant with the National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Virginia, represented the interests of the state courts at the national meeting. “This call to action helps the justice system and other public agencies by supporting coordinated language education and emphasizing interpreting careers.”

Research shows that millions of non-English-speaking American citizens and residents are being denied equal access to justice because they are unable to comprehend and fully participate in state court proceedings. Studies by commissions and task forces across the country have identified the pressing need to improve interpreter services.

“The conference put language competency on the national agenda for security and global competitiveness reasons,” said Hewitt “but with the DOD supporting language competency, courts and litigants will benefit from the coordinated educational effort and increased emphasis on language careers.”

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz praised attendees’ efforts, especially as the development of language skills and cultural awareness support national security. The meeting, held at the University of Maryland in June, was co-sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Center for Advanced Study of Language.

NCSC’s Hewitt has championed the cause of multi-state collaboration to improve court interpretation and guarantee equal access to the nation’s state courts for non-English-speaking litigants. Following NCSC research studies in the early 1990s, Hewitt and founders of the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification (from state courts in Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington) recognized that coordinated, national test development was desirable and feasible. They created a program to pool financial resources and professional expertise, eliminate duplication of expense and effort, and lower the cost of interpreter test development and administration for all of the member states. However, since court interpreting is highly specialized, it is often difficult for courts to hire and retain enough competent interpreters.  

Hewitt hopes that the DOD endorsed call to action will result in increased demand for interpreters. This will increase the pool of interpreters available to the justice system and other public service agencies. Chief Justice Randall Sheppard of Indiana is sponsoring a feasibility study of the model in Indiana.

The National Center for State Courts is a not-for-profit organization founded by court leaders to provide information, education, consulting, and research services to the state courts. Its work is funded by the state and federal governments, fees for services and donations. NCSC provides administrative services to the Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification. 

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