Salome Mwangi : Boise Area Growth Spurs County Expenses

Salome Mwangi, a Swahili interpreter at the Ada County District Court, plays a crucial role in ensuring that non-English speakers have access to justice. Her job goes beyond just interpreting in the courtroom; she also prepares clients for what to expect during legal proceedings, such as the need for concise answers and the opportunity to provide input on their sentence.

Inside the courtroom, Mwangi provides simultaneous interpretation, bridging the language barrier between English-speaking judges and lawyers and Swahili-speaking clients. This requires quick thinking to accurately convey legal terms and American idioms that may not have direct translations in Swahili.

With the growing diversity in Ada County, the demand for interpretation services has surged. According to Mwangi, the need for interpreters has more than doubled in recent years, leading to a significant increase in costs for the court. In 2023, the court spent approximately £330,000 on interpreters, a 72% rise from the previous year.

One challenge faced by the court is the scarcity of local interpreters for languages other than Spanish. This has resulted in the need to fly interpreters from out of state, further driving up costs. Mwangi attributes this shortage to the court’s practice of hiring interpreters as independent contractors rather than offering full-time positions, turning interpretation into a precarious “side hustle” without stability or benefits.

Under Idaho law, courts are required to provide interpreters for individuals who do not speak English or have hearing impairments. While the court has full-time Spanish interpreters, all other languages rely on independent contractors. Swahili has emerged as one of the most requested languages after Spanish, reflecting the county’s increasing linguistic diversity.

As the demand for Swahili interpretation services continues to rise, so do the associated costs. In 2023, the court spent nearly £60,000 on Swahili interpretation, a significant increase from previous years. Despite the financial strain, the court’s approach to hiring interpreters remains driven by demand, with Spanish interpretation comprising a significant portion of requests.

While the current focus may be on Spanish interpretation, Barrios acknowledges that the landscape can evolve rapidly, prompting the need for interpreters in languages like Swahili and Kinyarwanda. The court remains flexible in adapting to changing linguistic needs to ensure that all individuals have equal access to justice.