NIC Legal Settings 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Attorney-client privilege in interpreter-assisted legal communication means the interpreter must:
- Report any incriminating statements made in the presence of counsel to the court
- Keep all communications between the attorney and client strictly confidential (Correct answer)
- Share privileged information with the judge if the court directly orders disclosure
- Disclose privileged details to the opposing party if properly subpoenaed
Correct answer: Keep all communications between the attorney and client strictly confidential
The interpreter functions as an extension of the attorney-client relationship and is bound by the same privilege of confidentiality.
Question 2: If an interpreter is assigned to a case involving a regional dialect they are not fluent in, they should:
- Proceed and mention the limitation only if directly questioned by counsel
- Use the closest standard dialect and rely on context clues to fill gaps
- Immediately disclose the limitation to the court and decline the assignment if necessary (Correct answer)
- Request a brief recess to research dialect-specific terminology before continuing
Correct answer: Immediately disclose the limitation to the court and decline the assignment if necessary
Interpreters must not accept assignments beyond their competence and must disclose any limitations that could compromise accuracy before proceeding.
Question 3: The principle of impartiality requires a court interpreter to:
- Advocate on behalf of the non-English-speaking party's legal interests
- Deliver favorable testimony more expressively than unfavorable testimony
- Render all statements accurately regardless of personal feelings about any party (Correct answer)
- Assist the attorney in formulating clearer questions for the witness
Correct answer: Render all statements accurately regardless of personal feelings about any party
Impartiality means the interpreter renders all speech accurately and completely without favoring any party or influencing the outcome.
Question 4: 'Sight translation' in a legal proceeding refers to:
- Interpreting sign language produced by a deaf witness or party
- Orally reading and translating a written document in real time without prior preparation (Correct answer)
- Interpreting content conveyed through visual demonstrations rather than speech
- Transcribing spoken testimony into a written translated document
Correct answer: Orally reading and translating a written document in real time without prior preparation
Sight translation is the real-time oral rendering of a written document without any prior preparation time.
Question 5: When a judge instructs the jury to disregard a statement, the interpreter should:
- Omit the original stricken statement since the court has ruled it inadmissible
- Interpret the judge's instruction completely and accurately to the non-English-speaking party (Correct answer)
- Quietly remind the defendant that the stricken statement can no longer be considered
- Interpret only the instruction and retroactively remove the original remark from any notes
Correct answer: Interpret the judge's instruction completely and accurately to the non-English-speaking party
The interpreter must faithfully render the judge's curative instruction so the non-English-speaking party fully understands what the court has ordered.
Question 6: Consecutive interpretation is sometimes preferred over simultaneous in certain court contexts because:
- It allows attorneys to object to a question before the witness hears it and responds (Correct answer)
- It significantly reduces total courtroom time compared to simultaneous modes
- It requires less rigorous training and credentialing than simultaneous interpreting
- It eliminates the need for a certified court interpreter in routine matters
Correct answer: It allows attorneys to object to a question before the witness hears it and responds
In consecutive mode, the interpreter waits for the attorney to finish a question before rendering it, giving opposing counsel time to object before the witness responds.
Question 7: A court interpreter who is personally acquainted with the defendant should:
- Proceed normally since familiarity can improve comprehension of idiomatic speech
- Use personal knowledge to resolve any ambiguous or unclear testimony
- Disclose the personal relationship to the court and request to be recused (Correct answer)
- Continue only if neither party raises a formal objection to the relationship
Correct answer: Disclose the personal relationship to the court and request to be recused
Any personal relationship with a party creates a potential conflict of interest that must be disclosed and ruled upon by the court.
NIC Legal Settings 4
Attorney-client privilege in interpreter-assisted legal communication means the interpreter must: