Court Interpreter

About the Department

Position:                     Court Interpreter

Job Number:              USDC 26-16

Closing Date:             Open Until Filled 

Starting Salary:          JSP 13 – JSP 14 ($109,428 - $129,311) (based on qualifications and experience)

          Transfers within the Judiciary will be considered for a salary match up to JS 14

Location:                     Austin, Texas

Position Overview:

TheUnited States District Court for theWestern District ofTexasis accepting applications for theposition of Court Interpreter (Spanish/English) in Austin, Texas. Remote interpreting will be required across the Western District of Texas divisional offices.  

A Court InterpreterprovidesinterpretingandtranslationservicesforSpanishspeakingdefendants,witnesses,and family members. The incumbent also provides interpreting services for the general public conducting business withthecourtortheClerk´sOffice.

Position Duties

• Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, and sight translation services during in-court hearingsrelatedtoallstagesofthecriminalprocessbytransferringthemessagefromEnglishintoSpanish, and from Spanish into English.
• Provides interpreting services in the relay mode with interpreters of indigenous languages from Mexico. Acts as facilitator of telephonic events in the courtroom for interpreting events in other-than-Spanish languages.
• Provides interpreting services nationwide as part of the Telephone Interpreting Program, with priority to the Western District of Texas. This responsibility entails researching the assigned cases and preparing for the event following established protocols.
• Responsible for scheduling and coordinating contract interpreters, including contract interpreters for the Telephone Interpreting Program, as needed. Coordinate with clerk’s office and chambers staff to meet the interpreting needs of the court, as well as locating and confirming any additional contract interpreters needed to provide services.
• Preparesforassignments byreadingcasefiles and conductingterminologyresearch,as necessary.
• Prepares written translations of a variety of materials for the court, ranging from general correspondence to the court from defendants and/or family members, to complex legal documents from other countries.Assignments may also include the translation of official forms.
• Participates in working groups that already exist or may be formed with the objective of completing special projects such as glossaries or translations.
• Contributes to or prepares presentations on translation/interpretation-related topics as part of staff meetings or other professional development efforts.
• Musthavetheabilitytoremain impartial.
• The staff interpreter is responsible for assigned administrative duties and clerical work and keeps in communication with other staff members and the supervisor to accommodate the court’s interpreting needs.
• Provides relief coverage as needed to the divisional offices across the Western District of Texas.
• Otherdutiesas assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered for this position, you must have successfully completed the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE) and be federally certified by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for Spanish/English.A minimum of three (3) years of specialized experience is also required. Candidate should also possess basic computer/software skills in order to perform translation, research, and administrative duties.

Specialized experienceisdefinedasexperiencethathasprovidedtheinterpreterwiththeknowledge,skillsand abilities to accurately and idiomatically render a message from the source language into the receptor language without any additions, omissions or other misleading factors that in any way alter the intended meaning of the message from the source language speaker in a courtroom or legal environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic levels is desirable.
• Extensiveknowledgeoflegal,highlytechnical,andcolloquialvocabularyinEnglishandSpanish,and familiaritywiththeregionalborderlanguagecharacteristics/slangofthesouthwestareaoftheUnited States is preferred but not required.
• Membershipinaninterpreting/translationprofessionalassociationishighly desirable.

Other Qualifications

Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a letter of interest (include job title/number listed above), resume, copy of your Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for Spanish/English certificate, e-mail address, and a daytime phone number to: www.txwd.uscourts.gov > Court Info > Jobs > Current Employment Opportunities & Online Application.

The United States Courts reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice. More than one position may be filled from this posting. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Court Unit Executive may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position. The Court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocation. This position is subject to mandatory electronic direct deposit of salary payments. All applicants must be a U.S. citizen or must be a lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) and seeking U.S. citizenship. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed. Employees of the U.S. Courts serve under "Excepted Appointments" and are considered "at-will" employees (except for probation officers who may be removed for cause). All employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (available for review upon request). Applicants scheduled to interview should advise the Human Resources staff if any accommodation is needed.

The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer