Translation is an art, even if it occurs in a bleak and dreary courtroom. Court interpreters in Wisconsin practice this art and can earn up to $40 an hour, but should be certified. Nevertheless, only 71 individuals out of 1,100 have actually completed the two-day training program required for certification as a courtroom translator/interpreter.

An interpreter in Milwaukee, Dawn Maldonado, says, "…I think it is tough and a lot of people fall off because they don't understand the legalese, which is a big part of the job."

Attorney Carmel A. Capati believes the low certification rate may be due to the $225 fee for the oral examination that interpreters must pass to become certified. Capati believes, however, that this should be seen as an investment in a career that can be very lucrative.

Over $1.1 million in funding for court interpreters will be provided by Wisconsin in 2008-09 and the next biennium budget will call for an increase of $110,000 in 2010 and $123,000 in 2011.

Espino got away with this scheme for almost a year, and will be serving almost that much time in prison for her misdeed.

10 November 2008