Dear Governor Newsom, Honorable Assembly Members and Honorable Senators,

We, the Certified and Registered Interpreters of the State of California, write to you to petition an increase of the Judicial Branch interpreter budget line item (0150037).

Interpreters are critical to ensuring that all members of our diverse community have meaningful access to justice and medical services by providing competent linguist services to our limited English proficient Californians. They are vital in empowering and listening to victims and survivors of crime, litigants, medical patients, and are equally necessary for the fulfillment of the rights and dignity of the criminally accused. 

The recent economic crisis caused by the pandemic— record breaking inflation, sky high housing cost, rising gasoline prices, rising utilities cost, etc… — has placed interpreters in economic hardship. California compared to the national cost of living average is in the top 5 most expensive states to live in and cost of living continues to rise. Interpreters working in the state courts are having difficulty paying their rent/mortgages. They are worried whether they will be able to afford gasoline to get to work. They fear they will have to choose between paying insurance or food. Many have resorted to using credit cards or loans to continue living in the Bay Area, San Diego, Los Angeles, and many other cities. 

Interpreters love their profession and strive to ensure that meaningful access to justice is achieved. However, the pandemic, and now the war in Ukraine, have exacerbated the already existent high cost of living in California. Without interpreters in the state courts the rights, access, participation, and equity of our immigrant populations will be unattainable. By increasing  the interpreter budget, interpreters will have the opportunity for better compensation to afford living in California and continue providing interpretation services in the state courts. 

With much hope,

California Certified and Registered Interpreters