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
Romanian Mihai Bledea Non-certified Vernon Hills, IL 847-899-8858 Email
Pashto, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Mirwais Shinwari Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-218-6656 Email
Portuguese Miryan Ingrassia Registered Orlando, FL 239-560-9626 Email
Spanish Miryan Ingrassia Certified Orlando, FL 239-560-9626 Email
K'iche Misael Itzep Non-certified Alta Loma, CA 909-646-0238 Email
Spanish Monica Kellogg Registered Omaha, NE 402-880-5050 Email
Burmese, Karen Morics Moo Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-871-9991 Email
CART Mydge Heaney Omaha, NE 402-889-2950 Email
Vietnamese Myhanh Che Certified Omaha, NE 402-350-3799 Email
Hatian Creole Nadege Cherubin Certified Fort Lauderdale, FL 404-861-8188 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Tajik, Urdu Nadia Bessembinders Non-certified Gretna, NE 402-320-0536 Email
Hmong Naima Lo Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-208-6546 Email
Kunama Negussie Agar Non-certified Aurora, CO 720-388-5448 Email
Russian, Ukrainian Nick Nersesian Registered Lincoln, NE 402-314-4441 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya, Italian Noel Abraham Non-certified Hawthorene, CA 310-500-6131 Email
Spanish Norma Olivas Certified Brighton, CO 303-257-7385 Email
Russian, Ukrainian Oleg Stepanyuk Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-610-2618 Email
Spanish Olivia Brockman Certified Omaha, NE 402-238-4397 Email
Pashto, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Palwasha Samadi Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-214-0307 Email
American Sign Language Pamela Duncan Certified Omaha, NE 402-578-2408 Email
Spanish Paola Tovar Certified Rancho Cucamonga, CA 909-539-5959 Email
Spanish Perla Alarcon-Flory Certified Bentonville, AR 712-898-5263 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya Peter Gebre Non-certified Rockville, MD 202-441-7504 Email
Czech Petr Hoferek Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-203-2816 Email
Tamil Premnath Singh Hukumsingh Non-certified Omaha, NE 713-927-0070 Email
Nepali Puspa Luitel Non-certified Mason, OH 513-834-0190 Email
Arabic Radwan Kouatli Non-certified Stanton, NE 402-992-4154 Email
Chinese Mandarin Ralene Cheng Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-326-7849 Email
Q'anjobal Ramirez De Ramirez-Juan Non-certified Omaha, NE 660-233-2242 Email
Spanish Raul Escobar Certified Seward, NE 402-890-9561 Email
K'iche Raul Vicente Non-certified Houston, TX 281-782-7576 Email
Burmese, Hakha Chin Rose Shee Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-591-0248 Email
Vietnamese Sa Fielder Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-281-8307 Email
Somali Said Rahma Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-904-2089 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Saira Babagul Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-470-7642 Email
Arabic, Hindi, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Punjabi, Urdu Sajjad Hamandi Registered Washington, DC 717-253-7632 Email
Arabic, Kurdish, Sudanese Arabic Salim Merza Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-321-3361 Email
Arabic, French Sarah Al Kasaby Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-517-1662 Email
Spanish Sarah Sosa Certified Mitchell, NE 308-641-5838 Email
Japanese Satoshi Machida Non-certified Kearney, NE 402-219-3352 Email