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
Deaf Interpreter Kim Davis Other Lincoln, NE 402-405-8786 Email
Swahili Godlove Lekule Other Lincoln, NE 402-580-7303 Email
Spanish Ben Hammar Registered Lincoln, NE 402-975-0235 Email
Burmese Kham Noam Nang Other Lincoln, NE 402-770-7256 Email
Arabic, Kurdish Khalaf Hesso Other Lincoln, NE 402-310-3703 Email
Romanian Vincent Simic Other Lincoln, NE 402-314-5019 Email
Spanish Belkin Gonzalez Certified Lincoln, NE 308-380-3131 Email
Arabic, Kurdish, Sudanese Arabic Salim Merza Other Lincoln, NE 402-321-3361 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Saira Babagul Other Lincoln, NE 402-470-7642 Email
American Sign Language Kelly Brakenhoff Certified Lincoln, NE 402-440-5237 Email
Pashto, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Feriedoon Ghulamhassan Other Lincoln, NE 402-318-4024 Email
Persian/Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Urdu Baktash Babagul Other Lincoln, NE 402-480-4181 Email
Chinese Mandarin Ralene Cheng Other Lincoln, NE 402-326-7849 Email
Spanish Erick Saavedra Registered Lincoln, NE 402-730-7854 Email
Spanish Juan Perez Registered Lincoln, NE 402-540-4738 Email
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Elvis Acic Other Lincoln, NE 402-202-5819 Email
Russian Victoria Welles Certified Lincoln,, NE 402-770-1176 Email
Lao, Thai Joseph Tasma Other Livonia, MI 419-973-4995 Email
Akateco, Chuj, Q'anjobal Juan de Juan Mateo Other Los Angeles, CA 213-247-4247 Email
Akateco, Q'anjobal, Chuj Victor Enrique Lopez Diego Other Los Angeles, CA 213-725-6567 Email
Slovak, Czech Adam Zahradnik Other 6012-988-0638 Email
Nepali Puspa Luitel Other Mason, OH 513-834-0190 Email
Spanish Teresa Ost Certified Matlacha, FL 239-471-4900 Email
Romanian Tatiana Narzarco Certified Mercer Island, WA 206-619-5655 Email
Chatino Albino Cruz Vasquez Other 011-52-1-9511250371 Email
Hatian Creole Fabie Bodek Certified Miami, FL 786-253-5322 Email
Russian Iouri Surnik Certified Minneapolis, MN 612-203-0908 Email
Ukrainian Iouri Surnik Other Minneapolis, MN 612-203-0908 Email
Somali Abdi Elmi Certified Minneapolis, MN 612-423-1022 Email
Spanish Sarah Sosa Certified Mitchell, NE 308-641-5838 Email
Albanian Anila Mayhew Other New London, OH 509-302-8962 Email
Hmong Tou Houa Lee Certified Oakdale, MN 651-442-7014 Email
Tajik, Persian/Farsi/Dari Gila Khabbaza Other Odenton, MD 917-837-6902 Email
Arabic Gila Khabbaza Certified Odenton, MD 917-837-6902 Email
Korean Young Lee Certified Olympia, WA 360-789-3186 Email
Czech Petr Hoferek Other Omaha, NE 402-203-2816 Email
Arabic, Sudanese Arabic Tara Trindle Other Omaha, NE 402-649-1352 Email
Dinka, Sudanese Arabic Elizabeth Ajongo Other Omaha, NE 402-301-0904 Email
Spanish Tara Jackson-Sanchez Registered Omaha, NE 402-321-9228 Email
Spanish Jeck Navarrete Certified Omaha, NE 402-221-7896 Email