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
Arabic, French Sarah Al Kasaby Other Omaha, NE 402-517-1662 Email
Spanish Sarah Sosa Certified Mitchell, NE 308-641-5838 Email
Japanese Satoshi Machida Other Kearney, NE 402-219-3352 Email
Arabic Sawasan Abugosseia Certified Prospect, KY 502-553-1521 Email
Sudanese Arabic, Juba Arabic Sawsan Abugosseia Certified Prospect, KY 502-553-1521 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya Selam Legesse Other Washington, DC 202-299-4958 Email
Ukrainian, Russian Serhiy Horokhovskyy Other Lincoln, NE 402-853-6083 Email
American Sign Language Sharon Sinkler Certified Lincoln, NE 402-525-2340 Email
Certified Deaf Interpreter Shawn Shannon Certified Omaha, NE 402-999-6440 TEXT ONLY Email
Spanish Shelly Hodges Certified Beatrice, NE 712-204-4815 Email
Hindi, Gujarati Shivani Patel Other Omaha, NE 402-490-3124 Email
K'iche Sixta Sass Registered Port Orchard, WA 360-876-7140 Email
Spanish Stacey Con Certified Lexington, NE 308-746-2623 Email
Burmese, Karen Starbright Judson Other Omaha, NE 531-777-2066 Email
Telugu Subbanna Varanasi Other Des Moines, IA 515-450-7052 Email
Burmese, Karen Sunkist Judson Other Omaha, NE 531-215-3299 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Armenian (Eastern) Suzelle Aghamalian Other Chagrin Falls, OH 440-364-0300 Email
Spanish Sylvia Gaylord Murray Certified Golden, CO 617-947-6218 Email
Lao, Thai Tamni Sundling Other Alda, NE 308-382-0887 Email
Spanish Tara Jackson-Sanchez Registered Omaha, NE 402-321-9228 Email
Arabic, Sudanese Arabic Tara Trindle Other Omaha, NE 402-649-1352 Email
Romanian Tatiana Narzarco Certified Mercer Island, WA 206-619-5655 Email
Russian Tatyana Novikov Other Omaha, NE 402-996-0802 Email
K'iche Teresa Kilpatrick Other LaGrande, OR 541-910-2926 Email
Spanish Teresa Ost Certified Matlacha, FL 239-471-4900 Email
Samoan Tiva Aga Other Fife, WA 253-993-8697 Email
Hmong Tou Houa Lee Certified Oakdale, MN 651-442-7014 Email
Hmong Tou Ja-Vue Yang Certified St. Paul, MN 651-253-3350 Email
Cambodian Vannara Lim Other Tacoma, WA 253-678-9270 Email
Akateco, Q'anjobal, Chuj Victor Enrique Lopez Diego Other Los Angeles, CA 213-725-6567 Email
Russian Victoria Welles Certified Lincoln,, NE 402-770-1176 Email
Hatian Creole Viking Merceron Certified Kennesaw, GA 678-557-1055 Email
Romanian Vincent Simic Other Lincoln, NE 402-314-5019 Email
Sinhalese Vishaka Smith Shoreline, WA 206-790-9306 Email
Spanish Vladimir Bazan Certified Lincoln, NE 402-805-0197 Email
Chinese Mandarin Wei Whitbeck Registered Omaha, NE 402-556-3661 Email
Polish Wojciech “Voight” Stremel Certified Chicago, IL 773-251-4416 Email
Nepali Yadu Sapkota Other Omaha, NE 402-301-4782 Email
Arabic Yaser Eddmeiri Other Lincoln, NE 402-525-4256 Email
Korean Young Lee Certified Olympia, WA 360-789-3186 Email