Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson has declared May 6 as Minnesota Court Interpreter Day, according to a statement released on May 5.
The announcement highlights the important role court interpreters play in ensuring equal access to justice for all residents. Interpreters help individuals overcome language and communication barriers so they can participate fully in court proceedings.
“National Interpreter Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to honor the skills, integrity, linguistic diversity, and dedication to public service of court interpreters across our state,” Chief Justice Hudson said in her official proclamation. “It is fitting and proper to set aside this annual day of recognition affirming our collective commitment to language access as a cornerstone of a fair, inclusive, and equal justice system.”
The Minnesota Judicial Branch employs 14 staff interpreters and works with hundreds of independent interpreters who provide services during court proceedings. Since 2019, interpretation has been provided in 194 languages—including sign language—for people throughout Minnesota. “Minnesota is home to a richly diverse population whose residents speak dozens of languages and represent communities from across the globe, and whose deaf and hard of hearing residents communicate through non-spoken languages and other means of expression with equal richness and cultural tradition, reflecting our state’s long and proud history as a place of welcome to all who seek to be fully heard and understood,” Hudson wrote in the proclamation.
The right to a court interpreter is grounded in the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. It is also guaranteed under Minnesota law for qualifying parties when such rights have been established. “Court interpreters are invaluable to our commitment to equal access to justice,” said Rosalina Sanchez, the Court Interpreter Program coordinator for the Minnesota Judicial Branch. “They are an essential conduit between individuals and the justice system, bridging language and communication barriers for those participating in court proceedings.”
The Minnesota Judicial Branch serves residents statewide by upholding the rule of law; it operates throughout Minnesota as its official judicial system; it promotes transparency through public court proceedings; it delivers fair justice; it provides public access to records; all according to the official website.
