CFI :: Region 1 Strike Bulletin #4

Attorneys continue to tell us that the court system is in chaos. Even some judges are complaining that the Courts have been handling the strike horribly and they are angry that no one prepared them for our action. They say they are being kept in the dark by the administration, which has only told them not to talk to us. There is no leadership, they add. As one judge told our members in San Fernando, "You're killing us."

Speaking of leadership – or the lack thereof – we're told that John Clarke, the Court's head administrator is on vacation in Italy. (Fiddling while the courts burn?) Union leaders did not view this as particularly bad news since Clarke has not shown high regard for interpreters to date. "Maybe," said one negotiator, "we can get something done while he's away."

In case anyone missed it, new U.S. Census data confirm what we have always felt: people who speak a language other than English are the majority in Los Angeles. A full 53% of Southern Californians speak another language at home. Certified interpreters give voice and provide equal access to justice not just to the poor and the disadvantaged, but to the great majority of the people who live here.

Want to learn more? See today's L.A. Times.

The beat goes on

Strikers at Metro have started a band to play loud and long outside the courthouse causing one Metro judge to tell a jury: "We do not have a Korean interpreter today. She's playing the drum outside."

Noted defense attorney Mark Geragos refused to move for a TV interview while our members paraded in the background. Geragos then hugged one of our members, saying, "And let's support the court interpreters, who are only asking for their fair share." Thank you indeed, Mark.

Thanks to Seattle Guild

The Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild- CWA local Executive Board voted on Tuesday evening to contribute $1000 to the CFI Strike Fund and donations from fellow interpreters and union members from across the state are coming in. Thank you, brothers and sisters!

The Public Defender's Appellate Division has issued a memo to its attorneys telling them not to stipulate to the use of a noncertified interpreter and to ask for a dismissal if a certified interpreter is not available. Attorneys should also be reminded they have to inquire even if the court claims the interpreter is certified. Some judges are reportedly equating ‘certification' by Judge Ito and Judge Van Sicklen's to the Judicial Council's certification standard, and are not informing attorneys that those interpreters are actually unqualified, provisional scabs.

If you're not with us…

These certified interpreter employees are crossing our picket lines to work in the courts:

Diana Barahona Pat Patterson
Claritza Callaci Ruth Rodriguez
Patrick Campbell Carmen Solis
Nina Dmitrevsky David Song
Beatriz Goldstein Ana Luisa Sullivan
Zoraida Hughes Bill Yankes
Steven Lai Radha Zaidi
Marisa Menjivar Herminia Zamudio
Ana Millaruelos
Marcelino Ortiz
Raul Ortiz Ana Maria Schneiderman

Everyone makes mistakes, and we hope these brothers and sisters will have a change of heart and join us on the picket line- where we would welcome them any time.