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
Q'anjobal Ramirez De Ramirez-Juan Non-certified Omaha, NE 660-233-2242 Email
Akateco, Q'anjobal Juana Diego Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-378-0437 Email
Akateco, Q'anjobal, Chuj Victor Enrique Lopez Diego Non-certified Los Angeles, CA 213-725-6567 Email
Akateco, Chuj, Q'anjobal Juan de Juan Mateo Non-certified Los Angeles, CA 213-247-4247 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya, Italian Noel Abraham Non-certified Hawthorene, CA 310-500-6131 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya Peter Gebre Non-certified Rockville, MD 202-441-7504 Email
Amharic, Tigrinya Selam Legesse Non-certified Washington, DC 202-299-4958 Email
Mina, Ewe, French Etornam "Kiki" Kouete Non-certified Bennington, NE 402-813-4239 Email
Chinese Mandarin Ralene Cheng Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-326-7849 Email
Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin Luna Tsang-Sahs Non-certified Cook, NE 402-304-0033 Email
Chinese Mandarin Zhaoyan Zhang Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-617-6952 Email
Chinese Mandarin Leslie Shi Registered Omaha, NE 402-617-4876 Email
Chinese Mandarin Wei Whitbeck Registered Omaha, NE 402-556-3661 Email
Chinese Mandarin Claudio Huang Certified Omaha, NE 402-671-9808 Email
Sinhalese Vishaka Smith Shoreline, WA 206-790-9306 Email
Samoan Tiva Aga Non-certified Fife, WA 253-993-8697 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Tajik, Urdu Nadia Bessembinders Non-certified Gretna, NE 402-320-0536 Email
Tajik, Persian/Farsi/Dari Gila Khabbaza Non-certified Odenton, MD 917-837-6902 Email
Azerbaijani (Northern & Southern), Persian/Farsi/Dari, Tajik, Turkish Manouchehr Mahmoudzadeh Non-certified Fair Oaks, CA 916-969-0889 Email
Portuguese Joshua Pryor Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-290-9835 Email
Portuguese, Tarahumara Dale Taylor Non-certified Lincoln, NE 402-841-0887 Email
Portuguese Miryan Ingrassia Registered Orlando, FL 239-560-9626 Email
Chinese Cantonese Michelle Fann Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-415-9289 Email
Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin Luna Tsang-Sahs Non-certified Cook, NE 402-304-0033 Email
K’ekchi/Q’eqchi James Yoder Non-certified Kokomo, MS 601-731-8070 Email
Bulgarian Daniella D’Louhy Non-certified Seattle, WA 206-937-6244 Email
Marshallese Barbara Fisher Non-certified Clemson, SC 864-873-8387 Email
Mam (Central, Northern, Soconusco, Southern, & Western) Bertilda Martin Mendoza Non-certified Portland, OR 971-275-2844 Email
Swahili, Kikuyu Esther Mitchell Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-515-9761 Email