This case study, State v. Selalla (2008), involves Kevin Ballesillo Selalla (Selalla) who was charged in South Dakota on 27 July 2005 for drug possession, drug dealing intent and assuming fake identities intended to mislead law enforcement. Prior to the trial, Selalla claimed having limited knowledge of English and in response, the trial court hired a Spanish/English interpreter to assist Selalla. However, the Public Defender’s office took liberty in hiring another interpreter to facilitate communication between the defense counsel and Selalla. The trial court then dismissed the interpreter it had hired citing that retaining more than one publicly-funded interpreter is unwarranted. This analysis seeks to examine the role and administration of courtroom interpreters.
The major issue in this case is the dismissal of the court-hired interpreter (hereafter referred to as proceedings interpreter) who was appointed to provide simultaneous interpretation of the court proceedings for Selalla. This became a point of contention on Selalla’s appeal following being convicted on all charges. It is unrecorded as to whether the retained interpreter (hereafter referred to …show more content…
The role of a proceedings interpreter is to interpret courtroom discourse involving the judges, prosecutors, witnesses and other courtroom members (McKeown & Miller, 2009). Only through the interpreter can the defendant bridge the language barrier and have involvement in the proceedings (Matu, Odhiambo, Adams, and Ongarora, 2012). The interpreter allows the defendant to be present and have presence in the courtroom by rendering him the ability to communicate with the judge and his attorney (Abel, 2012). Without simultaneous interpretation of the proceedings, the language barrier will sideline Selalla from his own court hearings, denying him from participating in the legal proceedings leading up to his
The major issue in this case is the dismissal of the court-hired interpreter (hereafter referred to as proceedings interpreter) who was appointed to provide simultaneous interpretation of the court proceedings for Selalla. This became a point of contention on Selalla’s appeal following being convicted on all charges. It is unrecorded as to whether the retained interpreter (hereafter referred to …show more content…
The role of a proceedings interpreter is to interpret courtroom discourse involving the judges, prosecutors, witnesses and other courtroom members (McKeown & Miller, 2009). Only through the interpreter can the defendant bridge the language barrier and have involvement in the proceedings (Matu, Odhiambo, Adams, and Ongarora, 2012). The interpreter allows the defendant to be present and have presence in the courtroom by rendering him the ability to communicate with the judge and his attorney (Abel, 2012). Without simultaneous interpretation of the proceedings, the language barrier will sideline Selalla from his own court hearings, denying him from participating in the legal proceedings leading up to his