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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dinka, Juba Arabic, Nuer, Sudanese Arabic | Joseph Jok | Other | San Diego, CA | 858-877-1436 | |
Lao, Thai | Joseph Tasma | Other | Livonia, MI | 419-973-4995 | |
Portuguese | Joshua Pryor | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-290-9835 | |
Akateco, Chuj, Q'anjobal | Juan de Juan Mateo | Other | Los Angeles, CA | 213-247-4247 | |
Spanish | Juan Perez | Registered | Lincoln, NE | 402-540-4738 | |
Akateco, Q'anjobal | Juana Diego | Other | Omaha, NE | 402-378-0437 | |
Spanish | Julie Sellers | Certified | Atchison, KS | 913-370-5022 | |
American Sign Language | Kathy Rocco | Other | Omaha, NE | 402-201-7704 | |
American Sign Language | Katrina Watton | Certified | Omaha, NE | 402-570-8802 | |
Hmong | Kazoua Yang | Certified | White Bear Township, MN | 651-707-3928 | |
Nuer | Keak Kierkok | Other | Bellevue, NE | 402-706-6086 | |
American Sign Language | Kelly Brakenhoff | Certified | Lincoln, NE | 402-440-5237 | |
Spanish | Kelly Varguez | Certified | Omaha, NE | 402-504-8170 | |
Vietnamese | Kenneth Hoang | Certified | Thorton, CO | 720-987-5824 | |
Spanish | Kevin Lunt | Certified | Omaha, NE | 402-706-2117 | |
Arabic, Kurdish | Khalaf Hesso | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-310-3703 | |
Burmese | Kham Noam Nang | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-770-7256 | |
Karen | Khu Say | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-405-2290 | |
Deaf Interpreter | Kim Davis | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-405-8786 | |
Hindi, Nepali | Kumar Gurung | Other | Omaha, NE | 402-812-5616 | |
Vietnamese | Lana Nguyen | Certified | Prior Lake, MN | 612-501-8072 | |
Spanish | Laura Garcia-Hein | Certified | Bennington, NE | 402-661-7307 | |
Vietnamese | Lauren Tran | Certified | Aravada, CO | 720-360-9747 | |
Korean | Lee Pankowski | Other | Omaha, NE | 402-250-2652 | |
Spanish | Lesley Walker | Certified | Birmingham, AL | 205-617-3726 | |
Chinese Mandarin | Leslie Shi | Other | Omaha, NE | 402-617-4876 | |
Spanish | Lilia Bustos | Certified | Omaha, NE | 402-218-8915 | |
Spanish | Lissette Gilster | Registered | Lincoln, NE | 402-326-3956 | |
Liberian, Krio, Bassa | Lois Akumeh | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-560-1124 | |
Tagalog | Loraine Perez | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-802-8110 | |
Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin | Luna Tsang-Sahs | Other | Cook, NE | 402-304-0033 | |
Vietnamese | Maizuyen Nguyen | Other | Lincoln, NE | 402-304-5327 | |
Azerbaijani (Northern & Southern), Persian/Farsi/Dari, Tajik, Turkish | Manouchehr Mahmoudzadeh | Other | Fair Oaks, CA | 916-969-0889 | |
Spanish | Marcela Chudomelka | Registered | Ralston, NE | 402-905-8630 | |
Chuukese | Marcus Dipwek | Other | Beaverton, OR | 503-593-0156 | |
American Sign Language | Margaret Propp | Certified | Lincoln, NE | 402-314-3182 | |
Spanish | Maria Easterday | Certified | Eustis, NE | 308-320-4037 | |
Spanish | Maria Izabel Chavez | Certified | Dallas, TX | 402-992-2911 | |
Spanish | Maria Reutlinger | Registered | Lexington, NE | 308-325-6195 | |
Spanish | Marilyn Morales-Toppi | Registered | Papillion, NE | 402-660-1014 |