Certified Spanish court interpreter Irma Watt is Nebraska’s newest State Court Interpreter Coordinator.  Based in Grand Island, she serves the 9^th and 10^th Judicial Districts as a trusted, collaborative, and respected catalyst for and provider of professional court interpreter services.  Ms. Watt begins her full time duties on Monday, July 2, and looks forward to building upon the AOC’s longstanding commitment to ensure the limited English proficient public has equal access to justice in central Nebraska. 

Courts and Probation offices in the 9^th and 10^th Judicial Districts should email interpreter requests to Ms. Watt at irma.watt@nebraska.gov.  Please include in all interpreter requests:

Probation Office or Court & Location:
Point of Contact (name, telephone number, email address): 
Appointment or Hearing date:                               
Appointment or Hearing time:                   
Expected duration:
            Type of proceeding (arraignment, motion hearing, trial…): 
            Case caption and #:
Language needed: 
             Individual requiring interpreter: 

Thanks to Hall County Court Judges Arthur S. Wetzel and Alfred E. Corey III who participated in the June 26 interviews of the two talented applicants for this position.  Thanks also to Judge Teresa K. Luther whom has long advocated for a full time interpreter coordinator position in Grand Island to be responsive to the needs of the diverse population in central Nebraska. 

Since at least 1973 Nebraska has recognized language access as essential to providing justice, ensuring people who cannot speak English or are deaf or hearing-disabled have equal access to participate in the Nebraska Judicial Branch.  “These individuals come before our courts as victims, witnesses, defendants, and parents of juveniles. Not only is it important that these individuals be heard, but it is equally important that judges, attorneys, and jury members understand the testimony and arguments of non-English speakers so that justice can be served.”

~ Chief Justice Michael G. Heavican, State of the Judiciary 2013

Ms. Watt joins the ranks of Interpreter Coordinators first hired in 2012 to provide Spanish-English interpreter services in metropolitan areas, assist rural courts and probation offices in locating interpreters for needed languages, and provide assistance in mentoring, training, and testing court interpreters. 

Courts and probation offices requiring assistance in scheduling an interpreter should contact an Interpreter Coordinator listed below.

Adrian Hinojosa– Douglas County and statewide
               Adrian.hinojosa@nebraska.gov– telephone (402) 444-3669
Vladimir Bazan– Lancaster County and statewide
               Vladimir.bazan@nebraska.gov – telephone (402) 441-5967
Oliva Brockman– Sarpy, Cass & Otoe Counties
               Olivia.brockman@nebraska.gov– telephone (402) 238-4397
Irma Watt– 9^th & 10^th Judicial Districts
                Irma.watt@nebraska.gov– telephone (402) 459-0058

                            NSC.Interpreters@nebraska.gov – Statewide requests