News from the California Federation of Interpreters Picket Line

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September 26, 2007

SAY WHAT?

On the inside...

An article Tuesday in La Opinion, a Spanish language newspaper, is the first press report we've seen about the effects of the strike on the courts.

Here is an excerpt from our translation of the article, which ran under the headline "Criminal Defendants Set Free":

     Numerous defendants charged with felonies have been set free in recent weeks due to a lack of interpreters in several Los Angeles County courthouses, and it is expected that the situation will worsen in the coming weeks because many cases can no longer be put over, court sources stated.
     Although no specific numbers were given as to how many detainees have been released, or how many courts are lacking interpreter services, it was confirmed that defendants facing felony charges have been allowed to go free.
"These are drug and theft related cases- no crimes of violence," explained attorney Ramon Quintana, a representative from the courts where felony cases are heard. "What's happening is that there are no interpreters and if the people involved in the case are in jail, then they are set free."
He stressed that in cases of violent offenders, rather than being released, the cases are transferred to jails, where there are non-unionized interpreters and the cases go forward there.
     Nevertheless, the worst is yet to come because in the last two weeks many lawyers chose to put their cases over and, with deadlines approaching in a matter of days or weeks, a decision will have to be reached.
     Maria Arias, witness coordinator for the D.A.'s office, described the current situation every day in the Los Angeles courts as catastrophic, particularly for non-English speakers, because they are often receiving inadequate interpretation in their cases. "What's going on is they then get individuals who aren't qualified to translate and the information they provide these people is very poor," stated Arias.

Assembly Speaker steps up

CFI received a call today from the office of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

The district office representative said the Speaker had been contacted by CFI-CWA representatives and by picket captain, and constituent, Miguel Aguayo. He indicated that the Speaker is prepared to do everything in his power to support us and help resolve this labor dispute. And to start, said the representative, Speaker Nuñez today made a personal call to Presiding Judge Czuleger.

From Fresno

Dear CFI,

Thank you for the daily updates regarding the progress of our courageous colleagues in the Los Angeles area as they strike on behalf of all the interpreting profession. Although I am an Administrative Certified interpreter in the Fresno area, I would like to make a small monetary contribution (the current court per-diem rate) to the cause that these brave interpreters have undertaken. I would also like to encourage other colleagues throughout the state, without regard to the type of certification that they hold, to contribute to the Picket Line fund. Their courageous actions can not go unnoticed. We all hope and pray that their combined efforts will bring about some positive changes to the interpreting profession.

Rod Olguin, Administrative Hearing Interpreter