Statewide Register of Interpreters

Statewide Register of Interpreters

Court Staff, Probation Staff and Court-Ordered Mediation

If an interpreter is needed during business hours, court and probation personnel need to email all interpreter requests to the Operations Team with the county name in the subject line.  Court and probation personnel should not be contacting the interpreters directly and scheduling interpreter services. The only exception is for unplanned probation needs outside of normal business hours.

The initial request needs to contain all the following information:

  • Language
  • Date
  • Start time of all court ordered meetings/hearings or probation activities
  • Name
  • Case Number
  • Charges
  • Courtroom #
  • Hearing Type
  • Judge's Name
  • Attorney's Name and/or PO's Name
  • Meeting Type (PSI, PDI, FTM…)
  • Expected Duration
  • Address where the interpreter needs to go
  • Contact person info

Court personnel should follow this formal request process even if the judge or clerk magistrate asked the interpreter on the record if they are available for the next court date.  This will ensure the Language Access Program can confirm an interpreter has been scheduled and ensure they are paid for their services. ​

Attorneys

The Language Access Program does not pay interpreters used to facilitate communication between an attorney and client outside of the hearing.  Interpreters can assist with brief conversations if time allows.  As a rule, attorneys should contract with interpreters when they need to meet with their clients to discuss their case, court processes, and strategy.  Use the Statewide Register of Interpreters to reach out to the interpreters for their current rates and availability. 

“To address these needs, the Nebraska Legislature, under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and LB1014, set aside $500,000 in federal funds for Fiscal Years 2022-23 and 2023-24 to reimburse expenses incurred in the provision of qualified, licensed sign language interpreters (whether on-site or remote) throughout the state (including Lincoln and Omaha) to provide effective communication access services between attorneys and deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing individuals outside of the courtroom.”  Click here for more information or contact the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  

Mental Health Board Hearings, Non-Court Ordered Mediation and State agencies

The Language Access Program does not pay for the interpreter when they are needed for Mental Health Board hearings, non-court ordered mediation or by other state agencies.  Use the Statewide Register of Interpreters to reach out to the interpreters for their current rates and availability.  

Workers Compensation Court

The Language Access Program will pay for the interpreter, but it is the employer’s obligation to schedule the interpreter.  Use the Statewide Register of Interpreters to find and secure an interpreter.  Please note that the Nebraska Supreme Court rule on interpreter payment rate must be adhered to, otherwise payment may be denied.    

Language(s) Name Type City Phone Email
American Sign Language Pamela Duncan Certified Omaha, NE 402-578-2408 Email
Spanish Jeck Navarrete Certified Omaha, NE 402-221-7896 Email
Spanish Olivia Brockman Certified Omaha, NE 402-238-4397 Email
Spanish Ashley Villanueva Enriquez Certified Omaha, NE 402-917-8219 Email
Burmese, Karen Sunkist Judson Non-certified Omaha, NE 531-215-3299 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Russian Farzona Komilova Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-813-8888 Email
Oromo, Amharic Ashenafi Ejjigu Non-certified Omaha, NE 651-399-2230 Email
Burmese, Karen Starbright Judson Non-certified Omaha, NE 531-777-2066 Email
Spanish Miryan Ingrassia Certified Orlando, FL 239-560-9626 Email
Portuguese Miryan Ingrassia Registered Orlando, FL 239-560-9626 Email
Tagalog Anabelle Paghiligan-Wall Non-certified Papillion, NE 402-594-9438 Email
Nuer Keak Kierkok Non-certified Papillion, NE 402-706-6086 Email
Spanish Marilyn Morales-Toppi Registered Papillion, NE 402-660-1014 Email
K'iche Sixta Sass Registered Port Orchard, WA 360-876-7140 Email
German, Dutch, Hebrew Daniel Bugel-Shunra Non-certified Port Townsend, WA 360-643-0080 Email
German, Romanian Ioana Paulat Non-certified Portland, OR 360-421-7523 Email
Mam (Central, Northern, Soconusco, Southern, & Western) Bertilda Martin Mendoza Non-certified Portland, OR 971-275-2844 Email
Vietnamese Lana Nguyen Certified Prior Lake, MN 612-501-8072 Email
Sudanese Arabic, Juba Arabic Sawsan Abugosseia Certified Prospect, KY 502-553-1521 Email
Arabic Sawasan Abugosseia Certified Prospect, KY 502-553-1521 Email
Spanish Marcela Chudomelka Registered Ralston, NE 402-905-8630 Email
Spanish Paola Tovar Certified Rancho Cucamonga, CA 909-539-5959 Email
Somali Mascuud Xaaji Certified Rochester, MN 507-272-1422 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya Peter Gebre Non-certified Rockville, MD 202-441-7504 Email
Arabic Amine El Fajri Certified Salt Lake City, UT 801-326-9525 Email
French Amine El Fajri Non-certified Salt Lake City, UT 801-326-9525 Email
Spanish Guadalupe McIntosh Registered San Antonio, TX 402-681-1064 Email
Dinka, Juba Arabic, Nuer, Sudanese Arabic Joseph Jok Non-certified San Diego, CA 858-877-1436 Email
Ilocano, Tagalog Angelo Abella Non-certified Seattle, WA 206-391-7942 Email
Bulgarian Daniella D’Louhy Non-certified Seattle, WA 206-937-6244 Email
Spanish Raul Escobar Certified Seward, NE 402-890-9561 Email
Sinhalese Vishaka Smith Shoreline, WA 206-790-9306 Email
Oromo Fatiya Adam Non-certified Sioux City, IA 712-223-4464 Email
Hmong Tou Ja-Vue Yang Certified St. Paul, MN 651-253-3350 Email
Yoruba Deborah Ariremako Non-certified St. Paul, MN 662-579-7455 Email
Mai Mai, Somali Abukar Abraham Non-certified Stone Mountain, GA 404-955-2000 Email
Spanish Anabel Cuadros-Yeiser Certified Superior, CO 210-882-6767 Email
Cambodian Vannara Lim Non-certified Tacoma, WA 253-678-9270 Email
Vietnamese Kenneth Hoang Certified Thorton, CO 720-987-5824 Email
Romanian Mihai Bledea Non-certified Vernon Hills, IL 847-899-8858 Email