The District Court of the Virgin Islands Interpreter Program is committed to providing highly qualified and trained interpreters to ensure equal access to justice to all limited English proficient individuals, hearing impaired and others with communication disabilities.
The District Court of the Virgin Islands maintains a Public Release Roster of Federally Certified Court Interpreters under the guidelines provided by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO); who determines and certifies the qualifications of persons who may serve as certified interpreters pursuant to the mandated Court Interpreters Act (Title 28, U.S.C. § 1827).
To request an updated copy of the Public Release Roster of Federally Certified Court Interpreters and/or inquiries regarding interpreter needs, please contact the Clerk’s Office St. Thomas/St. John Division at (340) 774-0640 or the St. Croix Division at (340) 718-1130.
Types of Interpreters
The Administrative Office classifies three (3) categories of Interpreters:
Certified Interpreters: Certified Interpreters are categorized as having successfully passed all the required components of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination administered under the auspices of the AO. To date, certification programs have been developed for Spanish, Navajo and Haitian Creole. In these languages, the courts will select interpreters who have met the Administrative Office's criteria for certification if the judge determines that certified interpreters are reasonably available.
Professionally Qualified Interpreters: A Professionally Qualified Interpreter is an interpreter in languages for which the AO does not administer a federal certification examination but is eligible to be categorized as professionally qualified upon submitting sufficient documentation and authentication. The criteria for established qualification requirements can be found by accessing the United States Courts website. The category of professionally qualified interpreters applies to all languages, except those for which the AO has certified interpreters (Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole).
Language Skilled/Ad Hoc Interpreters: A Language Skilled/Ad Hoc Interpreter is an interpreter who does not qualify as a professionally qualified interpreter, but who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court the ability to interpret court proceedings from English to a designated language and from that language into English, will be classified as a Language Skilled/Ad Hoc interpreter. Language Skilled/Ad Hoc Interpreter is paid at a lower rate than a certified and professionally qualified interpreter.
Interested in Becoming a Contract Court Interpreter?
If you are interested in becoming a Contract Court Interpreter with the District Court of the Virgin Islands, please review the manual below for further guidance.
Federal Court Interpreter Orientation Manual
Resources for Contracted Interpreters
If you have been contracted as a court interpreter by the District Court of the Virgin Islands, please review the resources below for further guidance. The Contract Court Interpreter roster will be made available upon request by contacting the Clerk’s Office.
Information Sheet for CJA Court Interpreters
Information Sheet for Contract Interpreters
Contract Court Interpreters Fees
Additional Resources
Guide to Judiciary Policy-Volume 5: Court Interpreting