Court Interpreter - Certified (English/Creole) - Translation & Interpretation (State Funded)

Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida • 33125, FL

5d

About The Position

The Court Interpreter is responsible for accurately translating verbal and written communications between English and Creole. Work may take place at branch courts, in courtrooms, judges’ chambers, attorneys’ offices, jails, detention centers, or hospitals. The position may also require remote work and travel to Eleventh Judicial Circuit locations, detention centers, and hospital facilities.

The successful candidate must hold certification as a Certified Court Interpreter through the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program at the time of hire and throughout employment, comply with Continuing Interpreter Education requirements, and meet the stated education or legal court-related interpreting experience requirement. The role requires strong English and Creole skills, including familiarity with slang, vulgarities, and idioms, as well as knowledge of judicial terminology and proceedings.

The posted salary is non-negotiable, and successful candidates are hired at the minimum salary of $81,519.12 annually, consisting of an annual salary of $73,070.04 plus Competitive Area Differential pay of $704.09 per month. Provisionally approved candidates receive 10% below the minimum: $74,212.20 annually, consisting of an annual salary of $65,763.12 plus Competitive Area Differential pay of $704.09 per month.

Requirements

• Certification as a Certified Court Interpreter issued by the Florida Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• Meet one of the following: a bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, the target language, or a closely related field, plus 2 to 4 years of legal court-related interpreting experience; or four years of legal court-related interpreting experience.
• Comply with all Continuing Interpreter Education (CIE) requirements.
• Required target language is Creole; one of the languages interpreted must be English.
• College-level knowledge of English and the target language.
• Knowledge of specialized vocabulary used in the judicial environment.
• Knowledge of judicial proceedings, including arraignments, plea bargains, motions, probation violation hearings, and sentencings.
• Ability to translate and interpret fluently between languages, including slang, vulgarities, and normal idioms; the language may be spoken, written, or recorded.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• General computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, Zoom, etc.).
• Familiarity with digital sound files and media players, such as Windows Media Player.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Valid Florida Driver’s License and the ability and willingness to travel throughout Miami-Dade County as needed.
• Certification renewal is required biennially.
• A valid Florida Driver’s License is required if a personal vehicle will be used to travel between courthouse locations.

Responsibilities

• Interpret oral communications between Creole and English, and provide oral interpretation of written text.
• Appear in court as required as an expert witness to introduce translations into evidence.
• Review translated material with parties involved in a case as required.
• Certify translations made by others as accurate.
• Review translated material in preparation for trial.
• Interpret for parties to cases, judges, lawyers, witnesses, social workers, probation officers, investigators, psychologists, state attorneys, and public defenders.
• Interpret at pretrial conferences, sworn statements, depositions, interviews, investigations, bond hearings, arraignments, jail proceedings, plea bargains, motions, jury and bench trials, sentencings, probation hearings, domestic violence proceedings, court calendars, polygraph examinations, and landlord/tenant disputes.
• Travel to branch court locations, detention centers, and hospital facilities as needed.
• Perform related work as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time