NC & SC Court Interpreters support

Advocating for Our Court Interpreter Community

While many of us are enjoying the summer months, the CATI Board of Directors continues to work behind the scenes to support and advocate for the language professions across the Carolinas. From promoting professional development opportunities to advancing issues affecting translators and interpreters in North and South Carolina, our commitment to serving the community continues year-round. Below are some of the initiatives and updates we’ve been working on this summer.

NORTH CAROLINA:

As many of you are current contract court interpreters in North Carolina, you are well aware that additional funding for rate increases, which was requested by the NC Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) from the General Assembly, was ultimately cut out of the recently passed state budget. This is the second budget cycle in which this has happened.
Therefore, contract court interpreters have come together to see what other options may be available, both in the short term, and then in the longer term, working with the General Assembly.
The CATI Board of Directors immediately got to work on creating a letter of support, to send to the director of the NC AOC (see below). We would like all our members to know that CATI will continue to support NC court interpreters and is currently exploring different pathways (with AOC support) to begin connecting with state legislators in this regard. We need to raise our voices and highlight how integral certified court interpreters are within the judicial process, and how important it is they receive compensation that reflects their skills and expertise, and that is also comparable with rates in other states. Stay tuned for more news on this!

 

 

July 17, 2026

Director Ryan Boyce

Administrative Office of the Courts

North Carolina Judicial Branch

 

Dear Director Boyce,

The Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters (CATI) writes to strongly support North Carolina’s contract court interpreters in their request for fair, sustainable compensation, joining the concerns raised by the North Carolina Interpreter Advocacy Committee (NCIAC), CATI members, and other stakeholders.

CATI is a professional association with members based primarily in North Carolina and South Carolina, but with members nationwide as well. Our members work in 23 languages across translation, interpreting, localization, and academia. Many serve, have served, or hope to serve as contract interpreters in the North Carolina court system. We have a direct and sustained interest in the health of this profession.

We commend the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts for requesting additional funding in the latest state budget for increases in interpreter compensation rates. However, it was discouraging to later learn such funding was ultimately not included in the recently passed state budget (we understand the ultimate outcome was beyond the control of OLAS). In Kara Mann’s email dated July 10th, it is clear your team recognizes how critical interpreters are to the judicial process and we thank you for that acknowledgement. Still, this leaves unresolved a problem dating to 2007, when certified Spanish interpreter rates were set at $40/hr. A Master level was added in 2013 at $50/hr (held by fewer than half of NC-certified interpreters). Only after significant advocacy did a modest $5/hr increase follow in 2022, with none since. This rate also overlooks that, as independent contractors, interpreters rarely work 40-hour weeks and must cover their own Social Security, Medicare, taxes, health insurance, and unpaid leave.

The rate has lost approximately 38% of its purchasing power since 2007 and would require an increase of approximately 61% merely to keep pace with inflation. Meanwhile, comparable court professionals’ compensation has continued to rise, and neighboring states now pay 45–75% more than North Carolina.

 

CATI is concerned that this compensation gap threatens the administration of justice in North Carolina. Court interpreters are officers of the court whose accuracy protects due process, the right to counsel, victims’ rights, and equal access to justice for individuals with limited English proficiency. Inadequate compensation risks losing experienced interpreters to other jurisdictions and sectors, leaving gaps that unqualified ad hoc individuals may fill — at real cost to judicial integrity. And as demand for interpreters grows each year, this scarcity will only worsen. Not providing appropriate language access through certified interpreters actually ends up being more expensive, due to the need to allocate additional resources (time and money) to remedy mistakes, misunderstandings and otherwise unnecessary delays.

 

Comparable jurisdictions have faced the same reckoning. In South Carolina, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New Mexico, the American Translators Association documented how stagnant compensation drove qualified interpreters toward better-paid federal, agency, and private-sector work. In response, those states implemented rate increases, which helped reverse those trends and stabilize their interpreter pools. North Carolina’s rates, largely unchanged since 2007 apart from the marginal 2022 adjustment, risk following the same trajectory if similar action is not taken.

CATI respectfully urges OLAS and the NCAOC to:

  • Pursue any available administrative or supplemental funding to provide interim relief at least at the rates proposed for this latest budget cycle, while pursuing a comprehensive legislative solution;
  • Support future budget requests with concrete data on interpreter availability, unfilled or delayed assignments, case continuances attributable to interpreter shortages, comparative compensation rates, and the operational and fiscal impacts of delayed proceedings, including increased jail costs where applicable, to strengthen the case presented to the General Assembly;
  • Maintain transparent, regular communication with contract interpreters on the status of interim funding options and the timeline for rate adjustments, and
  • Include interpreter representatives meaningfully in discussions affecting compensation, scheduling, credentialing, and working conditions.

North Carolina’s contract interpreters are a small, highly skilled workforce the courts cannot function without, yet current rates fail to attract qualified candidates to the profession in the state. We urge OLAS and the NCAOC to treat compensation as an urgent operational priority, and we stand ready to support continued dialogue toward a fair, sustainable resolution.

Sincerely,

Jaime Russell , CT, CHI, CCI

 

Jaime Russell, President

Aniella Vivenzio, Vice-president

Rhode Thomas, Secretary

Celia Clave, Treasurer

Dr. Mónica Rodríguez-Castro, NC Director

Daniel Vallejo Quintero, NC Director

Sandra Aidar-McDermott, SC Director

Julia Velasco Espejo, SC Director

 

SOUTH CAROLINA:

SC Director Sandra Aidar-McDermott has been busy with her new volunteer role on the South Carolina Court Interpreter Advisory Committee, with the state court system. She recently attended the group’s meeting and has provided information about the topics discussed. We are very glad to see a lot of good progress has been made, and there are a lot of encouraging things in the pipeline. We commend the South Carolina Court Administration for all the support they have shown court interpreters, and Director Aidar-McDermott for her dedication to the profession in South Carolina (and beyond!)

South Carolina Court Interpreter Advisory Committee

The South Carolina Court Administration’s Court Interpreter Advisory Committee met recently to discuss current challenges, policy developments and possible improvements to the state’s Court Interpreter Program. CATI SC Director Aidar-McDermott participated alongside other spoken-language court interpreters and ASL court interpreters. The committee’s role includes reviewing policies and procedures, identifying critical issues, improving communication and making recommendations that support access to justice.

Growing demand and guidance for attorneys

Court Administration reported that requests for interpreters and payments for interpreting services have reached their highest levels to date. It employs three Spanish speaking staff interpreters and has two additional openings. Learn about the openings here. It is also preparing guidance for the South Carolina Bar to explain:

  • how attorneys should request court interpreters; and
  • when attorneys are responsible for arranging interpreters for private attorney-client communications.

A discussion ensued regarding the ethical implications of interpreting private attorney-client communications before and after hearings. ASL interpreters noted that confidential information learned beforehand could unintentionally influence later sign choices because ASL is highly context-dependent. CATI SC Director Aidar-McDermott explained that spoken-language interpreters do not face this same language-specific issue, although they must still preserve impartiality and confidentiality.

The committee agreed that the attorney guidance should clarify interpreters’ ethical responsibilities and distinguish between services provided by Court Administration and those attorneys must arrange separately.

New classifications and rates

Court Administration announced three additional interpreter classifications: Registered, Conditionally Certified and Federally Certified.

The proposed hourly rates are:

  • ASL: $95
  • Federally Certified: $85
  • Certified: $75
  • Conditionally Certified and Registered: $60
  • Otherwise Qualified: $50

The changes are expected to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Scheduling, travel and after-hours work

CATI SC Director Aidar-McDermott raised concerns about the three-hour scheduling rule, explaining that it frequently causes her and other interpreters to decline assignments. Court Administration indicated that the rule is under discussion and that changes may be forthcoming.

Committee members also raised concerns about:

  • unpaid travel time;
  • mileage reimbursement;
  • after-hours assignments; and
  • remote interpreting in courthouses with inadequate equipment or unreliable internet service.

Court Administration agreed to raise travel compensation with leadership and consider whether after-hours rates should be contemplated.

Matching qualifications to assignments

The committee was asked to distinguish between proceedings suitable for newer interpreters and those requiring experienced or certified interpreters.

CATI SC Director Aidar-McDermott emphasized that certified interpreters should be assigned to trials involving major offenses, particularly when a person’s life or freedom are at stake. She also noted that many certified interpreters decline trial assignments because they must reserve substantial time but receive no compensation when a case settles or does not proceed. Court Administration acknowledged the concern.

Additional updates

  • Mandatory background checks will be introduced for new and current interpreters at no cost to them.
  • Offering an on demand virtual Orientation Workshop, to allow interpreters to complete the workshop at their convenience was also discussed.