Court Interpreter

Job Details for Court Interpreter

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Court Name/Organization Texas Western District Court

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas is accepting applications for the position of Court Interpreter (Spanish/English) in Austin, Texas. Remote interpreting will be required across the Western District of Texas divisional offices. A Court Interpreter provides interpreting and translation services for Spanish speaking defendants, witnesses, and family members. The incumbent also provides interpreting services for the general public conducting business with the court or the Clerk´s Office.

Location Austin, TX

Opening and Closing Dates 04/27/2026 \- Open Until Filled

Appointment Type Permanent

Classification Level/Grade JSP 13 \- JSP 14

Salary $109,428 \- $129,311

Announcement Number USDC 26\-16

Position Description

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• Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, and sight translation services during in\-court hearings related to all stages of the criminal process by transferring the message from English into Spanish, and from Spanish into English.
• Provides interpreting services in the relay mode with interpreters of indigenous languages from Mexico. Acts as facilitator of telephonic events in the courtroom for interpreting events in other\-than\-Spanish languages.
• Provides interpreting services nationwide as part of the Telephone Interpreting Program, with priority to the Western District of Texas. This responsibility entails researching the assigned cases and preparing for the event following established protocols.
• Responsible for scheduling and coordinating contract interpreters, including contract interpreters for the Telephone Interpreting Program, as needed. Coordinate with clerk’s office and chambers staff to meet the interpreting needs of the court, as well as locating and confirming any additional contract interpreters needed to provide services.
• Prepares for assignments by reading case files and conducting terminology research, as necessary.
• Prepares written translations of a variety of materials for the court, ranging from general correspondence to the court from defendants and/or family members, to complex legal documents from other countries. Assignments may also include the translation of official forms.
• Participates in working groups that already exist or may be formed with the objective of completing special projects such as glossaries or translations.
• Contributes to or prepares presentations on translation/interpretation\-related topics as part of staff meetings or other professional development efforts.
• Must have the ability to remain impartial.
• The staff interpreter is responsible for assigned administrative duties and clerical work and keeps in communication with other staff members and the supervisor to accommodate the court’s interpreting needs.
• Provides relief coverage as needed to the divisional offices across the Western District of Texas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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To be considered for this position, you must have successfully completed the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination (FCICE) and be federally certified by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for Spanish/English. A minimum of three (3\) years of specialized experience is also required. Candidate should also possess basic computer/software skills in order to perform translation, research, and administrative duties.

Specialized experience is defined as experience that has provided the interpreter with the knowledge, skills and abilities to accurately and idiomatically render a message from the source language into the receptor language without any additions, omissions or other misleading factors that in any way alter the intended meaning of the message from the source language speaker in a courtroom or legal environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and socioeconomic levels is desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of legal, highly technical, and colloquial vocabulary in English and Spanish, and familiarity with the regional border language characteristics/slang of the southwest area of the United States is preferred but not required.
• Membership in an interpreting/translation professional association is highly desirable.

Miscellaneous

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• Provides simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, and sight translation services during in\-court hearings related to all stages of the criminal process by transferring the message from English into Spanish, and from Spanish into English.
• Provides interpreting services in the relay mode with interpreters of indigenous languages from Mexico. Acts as facilitator of telephonic events in the courtroom for interpreting events in other\-than\-Spanish languages.
• Provides interpreting services nationwide as part of the Telephone Interpreting Program, with priority to the Western District of Texas. This responsibility entails researching the assigned cases and preparing for the event following established protocols.
• Responsible for scheduling and coordinating contract interpreters, including contract interpreters for the Telephone Interpreting Program, as needed. Coordinate with clerk’s office and chambers staff to meet the interpreting needs of the court, as well as locating and confirming any additional contract interpreters needed to provide services.
• Prepares for assignments by reading case files and conducting terminology research, as necessary.
• Prepares written translations of a variety of materials for the court, ranging from general correspondence to the court from defendants and/or family members, to complex legal documents from other countries. Assignments may also include the translation of official forms.
• Participates in working groups that already exist or may be formed with the objective of completing special projects such as glossaries or translations.
• Contributes to or prepares presentations on translation/interpretation\-related topics as part of staff meetings or other professional development efforts.
• Must have the ability to remain impartial.
• The staff interpreter is responsible for assigned administrative duties and clerical work and keeps in communication with other staff members and the supervisor to accommodate the court’s interpreting needs.
• Provides relief coverage as needed to the divisional offices across the Western District of Texas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Application Info

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Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a letter of interest (include job title/number listed above), resume, copy of your Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for Spanish/English certificate, e\-mail address, and a daytime phone number to: www.txwd.uscourts.gov \> Court Info \> Jobs \> Current Employment Opportunities \& Online Application.

The U.S. Courts reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice. More than one position may be filled from this posting. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Court Unit Executive may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position. The Court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocation. This position is subject to mandatory electronic direct deposit of salary payments. All applicants must be a U.S. citizen or must be a lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) and seeking U.S. citizenship. Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials may be grounds for non\-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed. Employees of the U.S. Courts serve under "Excepted Appointments" and are considered "at\-will" employees (except for probation officers who may be removed for cause). All employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (available for review upon request). Applicants scheduled to interview should advise the Human Resources staff if any accommodation is needed.

The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.