Court Interpreter - Spanish

SUPERIOR COURT

COUNTY OF MADERA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXAMINATION

 COURT INTERPRETER (SPANISH)-Full-Time

Daily Rate $342 - $363

Annually $88,974 - $94,383

Final Filing Date: Open Until Filled

The Madera County Superior Court encourages a positive work-life balance and offers a

competitive benefits package:

• Experienced Spanish Court Interpreters with years of services are encouraged to apply.
• The Madera County Superior Court offers membership into CalPERS and for Classic Members a 2.7% at 55 retirement benefit formula for individuals in a California Government Retirement System on or before 12/31/2012, or new employees a 2% at 62 retirement benefit formula.
• Retirees from Madera County Superior Court enjoy employer contributions toward health insurance premiums.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision, to provide consecutive and simultaneous interpreting services for persons who do not speak English or who have difficulty understanding and expressing themselves in English; to be responsible for interpreting all verbal and sight translating all written communication pertaining to the matter being heard; to interpret statements made by judges, attorneys, and expert witnesses, all of whom frequently use legal and technical terminology, and to interpret statements of defendants or other parties, some of whom may possess very limited language skills; and to do related work as required. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises no supervision.

IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Performs verbatim, simultaneous interpretation for defendants and witnesses in court.
• Assists attorneys representing non-English speaking defendants by interpreting before, during and after courtroom proceedings, conducting interviews relative to pre-hearing testimony and post-hearing orders.
• Performs sight translation of court documents.
• Assists court staff by interpreting for customers during office visits and incoming calls.
• May be required to provide interpreting services using Video Remote Interpreting equipment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• English and a second language usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, phrase and sentence structure, gender, and verb tenses.
• Court translation practices and procedures.
• Legal and technical terminology as used in court proceedings.

Skill to:

• Simultaneously interpret/translate accurately at a rate of approximately 120-140 words per minute in a designated language.
• Consecutively interpret and perform sight translation.
• Use simultaneous interpreting equipment.

Ability to:

• Learn the functions, policies and procedures of the Madera County Court System.
• Interpret/translate accurately without adding, deleting, paraphrasing, or changing the
• meaning of the matter.
• Perform consecutive interpreting accurately without lengthy hesitation.
• Use correct spelling, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, phrase and sentence structure, gender, and verb tenses.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

OTHER JOB RELATED DUTIES

Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

Requires one year of experience in a position requiring extensive public contact and interpretation/translation work AND equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE 

Must possess a valid certificate as a “Certified Court Interpreter” issued by the Judicial Council of California on behalf of the State of California.   

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver’s license or must be able to provide self-arranged transportation.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:  Ability to work in a standard office environment.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: 

Benefits of employment with the Superior Court, County of Madera include 13 paid holidays and 1 floating holiday per year, 1 sick leave day per month (unlimited accrual); Appointed to a permanent position shall be granted 5 days credit for vacation following the completion of 6 calendar months of continuous paid full-time service and following the completion of 12 calendar months of continuous paid full-time service in a permanent position will be credited 5 additional vacation days, vacation accrual increasing thereafter with years of service (50 days max accrual); Membership in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) pursuant to the provisions of  California’s 2013 Pension Reform Act (Act) and CalPERS Regulations.  For those individuals with current or prior CalPERS membership status or “classic member” will be eligible for an enhanced 2.7% @ 55 retirement formula; employee contributes 8%. 

Individuals with no current or prior CalPERS membership status and who are defined as “new members” or new employees under the Act will be eligible for the 2% @ 62 retirement benefit formula; employee contributes 7.75%.  Superior Court participates in the CalPERS Health Benefit Program, and for certain selected health plans, the Superior Court pays 100% of health insurance premium for employee and 50% for either two-party or family coverage.

EXAMINATION PROCESS

A qualifications appraisal for the purpose of appraising the candidate’s education, experience, and personal qualifications will be scheduled for those candidates who meet the minimum qualifications, and may be administered either by a written examination, oral interview, evaluation of education and experience, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Superior Court Human Resources Division to be appropriate.  The Human Resources Division may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process.  The Superior Court Human Resources Division will make reasonable accommodations in the examination process for disabled applicants.  Madera County Superior Court does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, sex, or age in any of its programs or activities.

HOW TO APPLY

Please review the Application Guidelines for application requirements.  The application is required  and may be obtained by accessing the Madera Superior Court website at https://www.madera.courts.ca.gov/general-information/job-openings  or by visiting the Madera Superior Court’s Human Resources Division. Human Resources office hours are:  Monday - Friday, 8am – 5pm.  A resume may be included with the application but will not be accepted in lieu of an official application.   The “Employment History & Experience” section of the application form must be completed in its entirety.  Failure to fully complete the application and/or sign the application will result in disqualification. 

A copy of the “Certified Court Interpreter” Certificate must be submitted with the official application.

APPLY ON-LINE, MAIL, AND E-MAIL APPLICATIONS

The application can be completed on-line by accessing the Madera Superior Court website at https://www.madera.courts.ca.gov/general-information/job-openings. If an application is mailed or e-mailed, the application and all required documentation must be received by the final filing date.  An application may be mailed or emailed to:

Madera Superior Court

Human Resources Division

200 South G Street

Madera, Ca 93637.

HR@madera.courts.ca.gov

NOTE:  Postmarks are not accepted. 

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS:

If you are a person with a disability and in need of accommodations during your interview, please contact our office at 559-416-5517.

THE PROVISIONS OF THIS JOB BULLETIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED CONTRACT.   MADERA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXAMINATION PLAN.  SUCH REVISIONS WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MADERA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT PERSONNEL POLICIES AND STANDARDS.  QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO MADERA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION.

Salary : $88,974 - $94,383