Ethics

Professional Conduct for Interpreters (Rule 2.890)

Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters

Topics covered in the above links include:

  • Representation of Qualifications Complete and Accurate Interpretation
  • Questions by Witnesses
  • Questions by Family and Friends of Defendants or Witnesses
  • Referrals
  • Professional Relationships
  • Interpreter as Officer of the Court
  • Unobtrusiveness
  • Continuing Education and Duty to the Profession
  • Continuing Education and Work Requirements
  • Familiarity With the Case
  • Technical Terminology
  • Jury Instructions
  • Disqualification
  • Use of Technology
  • Relations With Colleagues
  • Professional Organizations
  • Assessing and Reporting Impediments to Performance
  • Interpreter Fatigue
  • Team Interpreting
  • Audibility
  • Instructions to Parties
  • Instructions Not to Interpret
  • Documents and Sight Translation
  • Cultural or Linguistic Expertise
  • Duty to Report Ethical Violations
  • California Evidence Code Sections 750–755.5
  • California Standards of Judicial Administration, Standards 2.10 and 2.11
  • Compliance Requirements for Certified Court Interpreters and Registered Interpreters of Nondesignated Languages
  • Standards for Performance and Professional Responsibility for Contract Court Interpreters in the Federal Courts
  • Additions
  • Omissions
  • Changes in Meaning
  • Register
  • Idiomatic Expressions
  • Fragmentary Statements
  • Voice Tone and Emotional Overtones
  • Nonverbal Communication
  • Ambiguities
  • Double Negatives
  • Read-Back and Repetition of Question or Reply
  • Errors
  • Clarification of Unfamiliar Terms
  • Culturally Bound Terms
  • Repetition of English Used by Witness
  • Questions From Witness
  • Identification of Interpreter’s Statements
  • Challenges to Interpretation
  • Duty to Witness
  • Impartiality and Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest 
  • Appearance of Bias
  • Parties in the Case
  • Prior Involvement in the Case
  • Gifts and Gratuities
  • Interpreter Neutrality
  • Personal Opinions
  • News Media and the Public
  • Confidentiality