The U. S. District Court for the Southern District is one of the largest district courts among the country's 94 federal judicial districts. The district courts, combined with the appellate courts and the Supreme Court, make up the judicial branch of the federal government. The Southern District of Texas consists of the following seven divisional offices:  Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Houston, Laredo, McAllen and Victoria.

We are seeking qualified applicants for an English/Spanish Court Interpreter in the Laredo division. In proceedings initiated by the United States, court interpreters are responsible for interpreting communications for defendants and defense witnesses who primarily speak a language other than English, or who do not have sufficient command of the English language to understand and communicate with the court, counsel, and probation/pretrial service officers.

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The representative duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
 

• Provide simultaneous and consecutive interpreting (Spanish/English) and sight translation services (trials, hearings, etc.) by transferring the message from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English. Interpretation may occur in both in-person settings and remotely via video or telephone, as ordered by the Court.
• Provide interpretation and translation services for out-of-court proceedings for Probation/Pretrial Services.
• Provide interpretation and translation of case-related documents, including legal documents, medical, and other forensic reports and records.
• Prepare for interpreter assignments, including reading case files and conducting terminology research, as necessary.
• Interpret in the relay mode with interpreters of indigenous languages from Central America and Mexico.
• Maintain functional knowledge of the proper use and maintenance of the Court’s built-in and portable interpreting equipment.
• Remain impartial and maintain a professional demeanor.
• Schedule contract interpreters for the division.
• Verify contract interpreter invoices with the Deputy-in-Charge for final approval.
• Perform other duties as assigned.  Additional assignments must not detract from the interpreter’s ability to concentrate fully on interpretation tasks and responsibilities.
• Travel may be required to other divisional offices for other court-related purposes.

• Successful completion of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE).
• Ability to fluently speak, understand, read, and write English and Spanish.  Advanced knowledge of idioms, slang, and regionalisms in both languages.  Skill in simultaneous or consecutive interpretation and sight translation with a high degree of accuracy and at high speed of delivery.
• Ability to reproduce language register when dealing with both formal and informal speech, to listen to and retain lengthy segments of speech in both languages of up to 50 words in order to interpret without undue interruption and to preserve the accuracy of the record.
• Ability to take and read accurate notes in both languages.
• Ability to access and use reference materials as well as to develop and maintain personal professional glossaries.
• Ability to function well in an interpreting or translating team.
• Knowledge of advanced grammar and usage in both languages, including the ability to interpret smoothly, clearly, fully and accurately in both languages.
• Knowledge of court interpretation protocol and techniques.
• Knowledge of Federal and State court legal terminology and concepts in English and the relevant foreign language.