News from the California Federation of Interpreters Picket Line

October 13, 2007

SAY WHAT?

Monday Hearing in Los Angeles

Lost in Translation: The impact of the Court Interpreters' Strike on the California Criminal Justice System. Convened by the Senate Committee on Public Safety, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the California Asian Pacific Islander, Latino, Black and Women's Legislative Caucuses

We are busy over the weekend preparing for the hearing on Monday. This is our opportunity to counter, in a public forum, all the disinformation that has been put out by the Court.

As we told you at our rally on Friday, we will gather in front of CCB at 8 a.m. and walk together to the Ronald Reagan State Building located at 300 S. Spring Street. The hearing will be held in the auditorium and will begin at 9 a.m. so we should all be in our seats by then.

The hearing is set for 9 to 12 but may go longer. Remember we're dressing for business. We want the value of our work and our profession to be recognized and we want them to see what a sharp group we are- even after nearly six weeks on the sidewalks of Los Angeles.

Status of the Strike

Our lines are holding and very few interpreters have returned to work. The few who have have wished they hadn't. The latest intelligence is that cases are nearing the point of dismissal and this is causing major distress for judges who want to ensure that they can break us without tainting their record of functioning without major impacts. Much pressure is being applied to get time waivers on cases in order to avoid dismissals.

In their desperation, the courts are putting out information about efficiencies and future reductions in the workforce. These comments are meant to scare people because they desperately need us back at work. The back log of cases means we'll be busy for a long time after the strike. Scabs are being used to spread this information; one reports being exhausted and called a striker inquiring when we're coming back. Even the scabs miss you.

Here too is a report from one of our observers lest you begin to accept their claim that they can get along without us.

From an observer at the San Fernando Court last week:

My second day in San Fernando was quite different from the first. I concentrated on the felony courts, but also kept tabs on misdemeanor/arraignment courts.

Now desperation was in the air, and nearly everywhere. The misdemeanor/arraignment courts were much more packed than yesterday, and apparently had no interpreters- helpless expressions permeated the environment.

In the morning session I saw only F status Marcelino Ortiz, and provisional, Natalie Alániz, and for 14 courtrooms! However, what was happening in some of the felony courts was of the greatest import: CASES ARE STACKING UP FOR THE PERIOD AROUND OCT. 15 THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH i.e Esperanza Castro, PA054906, 187 PC with a time estimate of 4 weeks, special DNA evidence, 30 witnesses, and some from Mexico. The last day being 10/15, private attorney Peter Corn made an appearance to choose a date beyond the period for lack of a certified interpreter. The prosecutor declared ready and objected, but Judge Burt Pines( Dept. J) granted the motion, and put a lot on the record concerning the complexity, and duration of the trial which would require several certified interpreters.

Oct. 25 was chosen, over the strenuous objections of prosecutor.

In the afternoon session, I could only find one interpreter. I want to stress that the atmosphere today struck me as much different, and the notion that "the strike was, or might be ending soon" came up several times in an almost desperate way. In my opinion, the next two weeks will be decisive, because many of the interpreters who are providing services are beginning not to enjoy their jobs.