STAFF COURT INTERPRETERS

          SACRAMENTO                                                                  FRESNO

            Ms. Yolanda Riley-Portal                                                   Mr. Javier Avelar

               Phone:             916-930-4221                                      Phone:             559-499-5611

             Cell Phone:      916-606-4843                                     Cell Phone:      559-476-0211

                  Email:  yriley-portal@caed.uscourts.gov                    Email:  javelar@caed.uscourts.gov

When an interpreter has appeared for a defendant or defense witness in an action, Pursuant to Local Rule 403, Court Interpreter Services In Criminal Actions (below), all defense counsel who have a defendant or defense witness that requires interpreter services must:

1.   Notify the staff interpreters promptly, but no later than one week prior to a scheduled hearing (for languages other than Spanish) and three court days before a Spanish interpreter is required. Notification shall include the language and dialect required.

2.   Promptly notify the staff court interpreter if a scheduled court proceeding is canceled or rescheduled, or if the defendant or defense witness will not be appearing, at least two court days prior to the scheduled hearing, to cancel or reschedule interpreter arrangements.

NOTE:  Failure to notify the staff court interpreters of the need for an interpreter or of a cancelled or rescheduled hearing may result in an order directing defense counsel to pay the cost of interpreter services.

 RULE 403 (Fed. R. Crim. P. 5)

COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES IN CRIMINAL ACTIONS

             (a)       Courtroom Proceedings.  Regardless of the presence of a private interpreter, only official, judicially-designated interpreters may interpret official courtroom proceedings in criminal actions, except as provided in 28 U.S.C. § 1827(f)(1).

             (b)      Staff Interpreter.  Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1827(c), the Court employs a staff court interpreter in both Sacramento and Fresno, who is responsible for securing the services of qualified interpreters.

              (c)      Notice of Need for Interpreter ServicesDefense counsel in criminal actions shall promptly determine whether they will need interpreter services for any defendants or defense witnesses at future court proceedings and shall timely notify the staff court interpreter that an interpreter is needed.  It may take up to one week to arrange for interpreter services in languages other than Spanish, and three court days for Spanish interpreter services.  Notification of the need for interpreter services should include identification of the language required, any dialect, and any additional information that could assist the staff court interpreter.  As to interpreters for Government witnesses, see 28 U.S.C. § 1827.

             (d)       Notice of Continuation or Cancellation of Interpreter ServicesIf a scheduled court proceeding is cancelled or rescheduled, counsel shall promptly notify the staff court interpreter of the cancellation or continuation at least two court days prior to the scheduled hearing. 

             (e)       Sanctions.  Unjustified failure to timely notify the staff court interpreters of the need for an interpreter or of a cancelled or rescheduled hearing may result in sanctions, including an order to pay the cost of interpreter services 


INTERPRETER/HEARING IMPAIRED SYSTEMS

Each courtroom is equipped with interpreter and hearing impaired systems. The systems use infrared technology which transmits sound to headset users. 


FOR ATTORNEYS

The interpreter services department of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California provides interpreter and translation service for the court and for other court-related agencies such as the pretrial services office and U.S. probation office. For a detailed description of which proceedings qualify for appointed interpreters, please refer to sections (a) and (j) of the Court Interpreters Act.

While the United States attorney's office secures interpreters for prosecution witnesses, defense counsel should contact, contract, and pay for interpreters when their services are needed for attorney/client meetings away from the courtroom. For cases or meetings that do not qualify for appointed interpreters, please contact interpreter services at 916-930-4221 in Sacramento or 559-499-5611 in Fresno.

Click here to view the California Judicial Council’s listing of interpreters.


WITNESS INTERPRETERS

When interpreters are needed for prosecution witnesses, the United States attorney's office secures contract interpreters as needed. When defense witnesses need interpreters, defense counsel should notify the Interpreter Services Office. For a detailed description of which proceedings qualify for appointed interpreters, please refer to sections (a) and (j) of the Court Interpreters Act.  As with any interpreter requests, interpreter services has to be notified of any changes, continuances, or cancellations as soon as possible in order to avoid late-cancellation situations. If a witness interpreter appears but is not used, that interpreter is entitled to payment:

Volume 5, Chapter 4 of the Guide to Judiciary Policy, 7.3 Cancellation Fees: (......) If the contract court interpreter is given notice of the cancellation less than 24 hours before the scheduled proceeding or time of departure from residence if travel is authorized, not counting weekends or federal holidays, the court will compensate the interpreter with a cancellation fee. (......)