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
Oromo, Amharic Ashenafi Ejjigu Non-certified Omaha, NE 651-399-2230 Email
Burmese, Karen Starbright Judson Non-certified Omaha, NE 531-777-2066 Email
Korean Lee Pankowski Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-250-2652 Email
Hmong Naima Lo Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-208-6546 Email
Hindi, Gujarati Shivani Patel Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-490-3124 Email
Uzbek, Russian Zarina Usmanova Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-214-9023 Email
Spanish Zaida Falcon Registered Omaha, NE 402-690-1379 Email
Certified Deaf Interpreter Shawn Shannon Certified Omaha, NE 402-999-6440 TEXT ONLY Email
Vietnamese Myhanh Che Certified Omaha, NE 402-350-3799 Email
CART Mydge Heaney Omaha, NE 402-889-2950 Email
Spanish Kelly Varguez Certified Omaha, NE 402-504-8170 Email
Burmese, Karen Morics Moo Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-871-9991 Email
Nepali Yadu Sapkota Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-301-4782 Email
Chinese Mandarin Wei Whitbeck Registered Omaha, NE 402-556-3661 Email
American Sign Language Katrina Watton Certified Omaha, NE 402-570-8802 Email
Spanish Adrian Hinojosa Certified Omaha, NE 402-714-1271 Email
Pashto, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Mirwais Shinwari Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-218-6656 Email
Arabic, French Sarah Al Kasaby Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-517-1662 Email
American Sign Language Kathy Rocco Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-201-7704 Email
Kisii, Mai Mai, Somali, Swahili Abukar Madimba Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-917-2078 Email
Chinese Cantonese Michelle Fann Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-415-9289 Email
Spanish Constanza Meier Certified omaha, NE 402-631-8480 Email
Akateco, Q'anjobal Juana Diego Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-378-0437 Email
Deaf Interpreter Cody McEvoy Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-201-6188 TEXT ONLY Email
Chinese Mandarin Claudio Huang Certified Omaha, NE 402-671-9808 Email
Vietnamese Sa Fielder Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-281-8307 Email
Thai Chinnapat Wirachakul Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-319-7610 Email
Burmese, Hakha Chin Rose Shee Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-591-0248 Email
Spanish Martha Brester Certified Omaha, NE 402-203-5413 Email
Deaf Interpreter Carol Manning Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-216-6487 TEXT ONLY Email
Swahili, Kikuyu Esther Mitchell Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-515-9761 Email
Spanish Carmen Novoa Registered Omaha, NE 402-203-5833 Email
Pashto, Persian/Farsi/Dari, Urdu Palwasha Samadi Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-214-0307 Email
Spanish Caden Tait Certified Omaha, NE 719-373-7862 Email
Q'anjobal Ramirez De Ramirez-Juan Non-certified Omaha, NE 660-233-2242 Email
French Bryan Watkins Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-990-9717 Email
Spanish Monica Kellogg Registered Omaha, NE 402-880-5050 Email
Spanish Jeck Navarrete Certified Omaha, NE (402) 630-6667 Email
Russian Tatyana Novikov Non-certified Omaha, NE 402-996-0802 Email
Tamil Premnath Singh Hukumsingh Non-certified Omaha, NE 713-927-0070 Email