The Twelfth Judicial Circuit is committed to providing qualified interpreters to limited-English-proficient persons in order to eliminate communication barriers that may prevent full participation in court proceedings necessary to ensure due process and equal access to the courts.


The Florida state courts have agreed to follow federal regulations and guidelines to provide a spoken language interpreter to limited-English-proficient persons for any court event when requested. 

As of February 1, 2017, Court Administration will be responsible for scheduling all interpreter requests, including Spanish, for all court events in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.  We will be using both staff interpreters and contractual interpreters to meet these needs.  If you require an interpreter in Desoto County, please contact the judicial assistant assigned to the case.

It is our policy that a staff Spanish interpreter is assigned to be present at first appearances, misdemeanor arraignments, criminal traffic arraignments, felony arraignments, juvenile delinquency and dependency arraignments, as well as detention and shelter hearings.  Court Administration requires that ALL other court interpreter requests be submitted online

The person needing the interpreter or his/her attorney is responsible for scheduling the interpreter. The court does not automatically schedule interpreters for you.  Each scheduled court event must be scheduled separately, as one scheduled event does not automatically schedule an interpreter for the duration of the case.

Requests for court interpreters should be made at least 5 days in advance of the scheduled proceeding.  It is in your best interest to schedule the interpreter when you are given your next court date.  We will try our best to honor interpreting requests made with less than 5 business days’ notice, but we may not be able to accommodate. In the case of less common languages, more time may be necessary to arrange for a qualified interpreter and/or a telephonic interpreting service may be used. 

Once an interpreting request is made, you will receive an email confirmation of that request and either a staff interpreter or a contract interpreter will be assigned to the case.  If there is an issue or question regarding your request, the scheduling assistant will contact you by phone or email to clarify.  To schedule an interpreter go to the Interpreter Request Form or please call 941-749-3659 for additional information.  

For emergency or last minute requests, you must contact Court Administration’s interpreter scheduling assistant at 941-749-3659.

To summarize, the basic information to remember is:

  1. A staff Spanish interpreter is assigned to automatically be present at first appearances, misdemeanor arraignments, criminal traffic arraignments, felony arraignments, juvenile delinquency and dependency arraignments, as well as detention and shelter hearings.  If you require an interpreter for any other court event, you must schedule one.  
  2. It is not up to the presiding judge, judicial assistant, or trial clerk to schedule the interpreter.  If you are not represented by an attorney you must request the interpreter yourself; and if you are represented by an attorney, the attorney must request the interpreter on your behalf.
  3. You must make your interpreter request online using the Interpreter Request Form.  Requests should be made at least 5 days before your scheduled court event.  If you do not have access to a computer, please call 941.749.3659 for assistance.
  4. Trial dates and most hearing dates are given to you weeks in advance, so please make your interpreter request early.  
  5. If your court event is cancelled or continued or you no longer need an interpreter that you scheduled, please call the interpreting office at 941.749.3659 and leave a message.
  6. If you have an emergency hearing or last-minute plea, you must call Court Administration’s interpreting department at 941.749.3600 x7100 to request an interpreter and will attempt to accommodate your request, however, we may not be able to do so.  
  7. You cannot request a specific interpreter.

Douzyèm Sikwi Jidisyel awondisman sikwi jidisyè angaje pou founi entèprèt kalifye ba moun ki pale anglè limite ansanm ak moun ki soud pou elimine tout difikilte kominikasyon ki takab anpeche patisipasyon yo nan pwosesis tribinal nesesè pou asire tout pwosedi ofisyèl ak aksè san pati pri nan tout tribinal yo.

Entèprèt Tribinal Lang Vivan

Douzyèm Sikwi Jidisyel awondisman sikwi jidisyè ap founi entèprèt pou tout lang ki pale yo ba moun ki pale anglè limite konfòmeman ak Tit VI Lwa Dwa Sivil 1964 la, seksyon 90.606, Lwa Laflorid yo, ansanm ak Règleman 25.60 Règleman La Florid sou koze Administrasyon Jidisyè.

Ya va nonmen entèprèt pou lang vivan yo lè va gen yon enterè fondamantal an je ak lè individi yo pa gen kapasite pou konprann oswa eksprime tèt yo an anglè epi sa ta kab anpeche patisipasyon konplè yo nan yon pwosesdi jidisyè. Ka sa yo enkli, men pa limite a, ka penal, ak ka kriminèl konte, ka delenkans ak depandans jivenil, patènite, manda pa pwoche nan ka vyolans familyal, pwosedi pou sante mantal ak enkapasite, ak nenpòt ki lòt zafè kote tribinal la detèmine ke yon entèprèt ta nesesè.

Ya va nonmen tou entèprèt lang vivan ki kalifye yo pou temwen ki gen konesans anglè ki limite nan nenpòt ki pwosedi pou tout viktim ki gen konesans anglè kilimite nan nenpòt ki ka penal oswa ka kriminèl konte oubyen pwosedi ka delenkans ak depandans jivenil.

Tout demann pou entèprèt lang vivan yo fèt pou bay preyavi omwen 5 jou alavans de dat pwosedi a, nan ka lang egzotik ki mwen komen yo oswa entèpretasyon ki pat pwograme, plis preyavi ta kab nesesè pou fè aranjman pou yon entèprèt kalifye epi tou, yo ta kab itilize sèvis entèprèt a distans.

Pou mande yon entèprèt lang

Entèprèt pou Langaj pa siy

An plis, Douzyèm Sikwi Jidisyel Sikwi jidisyè a founi sèvis entèprèt ak aranjman espesyal rezonab pou tout moun ki soud yo nan tout ka konfòmeman ak seksyon 90.6063, Lwa Florid yo, ansanm ak Lwa pou Ameriken Enfim yo/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Si w bezwen yon entèprèt langaj pa siy oswa aranjman espesyal, w gendwa a youn gratis. Tout demann pou entèprèt langaj pa siy fèt pou fèt omwen 5 jou anvan randevou a depi li ta posib.

El Duodécimo Circuito Judicial se compromete a proporcionar intérpretes calificados a las personas con un dominio limitado del idioma inglés y a las personas sordas, con el fin de eliminar las barreras de comunicación que puedan impedir su participación completa y necesaria en los procedimientos judiciales para asegurar el debido proceso e igualdad de acceso a los tribunales.

Intérpretes judiciales de lenguaje hablado

El Duodécimo Circuito Judicial provee intérpretes judiciales de lenguaje hablado a las personas con un dominio limitado del idioma inglés, en cumplimiento del Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, del artículo 90.606 de las Leyes de la Florida, y de la Regla 2.560 de los Reglamentos de Administración Judicial de la Florida.

Se nombrarán intérpretes judiciales calificados de lenguaje hablado siempre que exista de por medio un interés fundamental, y que la incapacidad de los individuos para entender o expresarse en inglés pueda impedir su plena y necesaria participación en los procedimientos judiciales. Tales casos incluyen los siguientes, aunque sin limitarse a ellos: causas penales en los circuitos y condados, abandono y delincuencia juvenil, paternidad, autos preventivos de violencia doméstica, procedimientos de dictamen sobre salud mental e incapacidad jurídica, y toda otra cuestión en la que el tribunal determine que es necesario un intérprete.

También se nombrarán intérpretes judiciales calificados de lenguaje hablado para los testigos con un dominio limitado del idioma inglés en cualquier procedimiento y para las víctimas con un dominio limitado del idioma inglés en cualquier procedimiento penal o de delincuencia juvenil en un circuito o condado.

Las peticiones de intérpretes judiciales de lenguaje hablado deberán recibirse por lo menos 5 días antes de la fecha señalada para la audiencia. En el caso de ciertos idiomas de difusión limitada o cuando la interpretación no se había programado, puede que se requiera tiempo adicional para conseguir un intérprete calificado y es posible que se use un servicio de interpretación remota.

Para solicitar un intérprete judicial de lenguaje hablado

Intérpretes de lenguaje de señas

Además, el Duodécimo Circuito Judicial proporciona servicios de interpretación y adaptaciones razonables en todos los casos para las personas sordas, conforme al artículo 90.6063 de las Leyes de la Florida y la Ley federal sobre estadounidenses con discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés). Si necesita un intérprete del lenguaje de señas o alguna otra adecuación, tiene derecho a que se le proporcione sin costo alguno para usted. Las solicitudes de intérpretes del lenguaje de señas deben hacerse, siempre que sea posible, por lo menos 5 días antes del evento programado.

Become an Interpreter

The Court Interpreter Certification and Regulation Program administers the qualification, certification, and regulation process for spoken language interpreters on behalf of the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA). 

There are formal requirements and testing that a prospective spoken language interpreter must complete in order to become officially designated or otherwise registered interpreters.

To learn more about interpreting in the Florida State Courts System and specific details on how to join this diverse group of professionals, please visit the Florida Courts, Court Interpreting page.

For additional information email interpreters@flcourts.gov or call (850) 922-5107. 

Public Interpreter List

This Registry is provided as a resource for the Florida State Courts System to utilize in locating qualified spoken language court interpreters that have passed an approved oral performance examination. In Florida, court interpreters may be officially designated as either Certified, Language Skilled or Provisionally Approved. The official status* of an interpreter can be determined by consulting the following legend:

Certified: The interpreter has attended an orientation workshop, passed a written examination, passed an oral performance examination, passed a criminal background check, sworn an oath to uphold the Code of Professional Conduct, agreed to pursue Continuing Education, and applied for and was granted Certification. The interpreters' Certification Number will appear on the Registry if they fit this criteria, e.g. 08-00999 SPA.

Language Skilled: A designation reserved for interpreters who have completed all requirements in accordance with these rules but who are seeking certification in a spoken language for which there is no state-certifying exam, such persons hold a valid certificate issued by the Office of the State Courts Administrator (OSCA).

Provisionally Approved: A designation reserved for interpreters of spoken languages for which a state-certifying exam is available but although not yet certified, have passed the oral performance exam at a lesser qualifying prescribed level and hold a valid certificate issued by OSCA.
*= If the interpreter is not indicated in this Registry as Certified they are considered to have no official status with the Office of the State Courts Administrator or the 12th Judicial Circuit.

The following American Sign Language interpreter has the exclusive contract with the 12th Judicial Circuit:

Name and Contact Information Language Spoken Certification
Number / Official
status
Certified
status
Other
status
County
McCarthy, CI, CT, Charlene 
941-363-1318, 941-726-1008
interpreter@VisComOffice.com
American Sign   X   DeSoto, Manatee &
Sarasota

It is recommended that you contact an interpreter listed below who is under contract with the 12th Judicial Circuit. While we cannot verify the skills or credentials of the interpreters and assume no responsibility; they have courtroom experience in the 12th Judicial Circuit and have performed satisfactorily.

Name and Contact Information Language Spoken Certification
Number / Official
status
Certified
status
Other
status
No Official
status
Bezrouk, Irina
941-214-0483
Russian       X
Gershfeld, Vladimir
941-373-1903
Russian       X
Hill, Daniel
941-896-0467
Hatiain-Creole    

Registered

 
MTIC, Inc
Steve Miller
727-271-6033
mtictranslation@gmail.com
All languages       X
Moise, Alix
863-670-2549
Haitian-Creole 15-00359 HC X    
Moscoso, Blanca (out-of
courtroom contract)
941-705-1886
Spanish  16-00410S SPA X    
Nguyen, Thuy
941-350-1150
 Vietnamese       X
Paulus, Nora
321-946-9493
Hungarian, Russian       X
Sawa, Wojtek
 847-322-7387
Polish        X

UPDATED: May 30, 2018