Shortage of Interpreters creates a Two-Tier Justice System

Dear Governor:

We, the undersigned, as Language Access Advocates and supporters of Language Preservation, are proud to support Assembly Bill 1032, which will make our justice system more equitable and accessible for all.

As representatives of CFI, we stand up against Language Violence, which occurs when the mother tongue of indigenous speakers is not respected. Sadly, this situation happens all too often, especially when individuals are forced to speak Spanish or English (languages imposed on them by their colonizers), even if they are not fluent in them. 

We firmly believe that AB 1032 will enable indigenous language interpreters to obtain certification and receive equal treatment within the court system. This crucial step will help break down the barriers they currently have because there have not been any resources put to create an exam in Spanish. 

CFI  is passionately advocating for the profession by addressing shortages, protecting team interpreting, and asking courts to incentivize employment. 

1) We believe that promoting Indigenous language rights is essential for ensuring language equality and promoting diversity and inclusion. We therefore urge you to continue supporting bills and policies that advance Indigenous language rights.

2) We also want to emphasize the importance of increasing scholarship opportunities for aspiring interpreters. By doing so, we will help increase the number of qualified interpreters in our courts, thereby improving access to justice for all Californians.

3) Finally, we fully support the use of funding from the State of California to provide COLA to all court interpreter employees. This will help with retention rates while ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We urge you to support these bills for a more fair and accessible justice system.

In unity,

The California Federation of Interpreters, Local 39000; allies & friends.