News

Aviles joins AOPC; will enhance translation services through certification/training

October 26, 2004

HARRISBURG, October 26, 2004 — Court Administrator of Pennsylvania Zygmont A. Pines announced today that Osvaldo R. Aviles has been named to the newly created position of Interpreter Programs Administrator within the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to enhance translator services in Pennsylvania’s courts for a growing non-English speaking population. Aviles, who began his duties on October 4, is responsible for developing and overseeing a statewide court interpreter/translator certification program, and assisting the Commonwealth’s 60 judicial districts in providing foreign-language interpreter services for citizens who are not proficient in English. “Developing the availability of qualified interpreters and translators across Pennsylvania and its diverse rural and metropolitan areas enhances the state court system’s ability to make access to a myriad of services available to those with limited English proficiency,” Pines said. “Through this example of growing intergovernmental collaboration, interpreters can be expected to maintain high levels of accuracy while providing essential information relating to community and legal matters.” Aviles’ hiring complements the Pennsylvania Judiciary’s recent association with a national consortium of other state court systems that will provide a framework for the Commonwealth to systematically establish statewide testing and certification of foreign-language interpreters. The General Assembly and governor paved the way for Pennsylvania’s membership in the National Consortium for State Court Interpreter Certification by allocating up to $25,000 for the initiative in the current state budget. Both actions complement the Judiciary’s establishment this year of an intergovernmental commission to further explore and implement solutions to meet challenges in the areas of ethnic, gender and racial fairness. Aviles comes to the AOPC after 14 years as a certified Spanish interpreter for the First Judicial District in Philadelphia. While working for Common Pleas Court’s Family Division he was instrumental in translating many court materials into Spanish and helped implement training workshops for freelance and per-diem interpreters serving the court. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Aviles earned a master’s degree in political science from Princeton University.