Court interpreters participating in lay judge trials with foreign defendants are struggling with increases in the volumes of written evidence and rapid questioning of witnesses and defendants.

A defendant recently appealed a ruling at the Osaka District Court, saying the interpreter made translation mistakes, and moves have emerged to introduce an independent qualification for court interpreters to improve their abilities. At present, there is no such national qualification.

While problems involving court interpreters continue, moves to address the situation are emerging. Since last August, a group of lawyers and scholars in Osaka has been giving seminars nationwide for court interpreters to gain the requisite knowledge and techniques. There have also been mock trials, and thus far, about 450 people have taken part.

The Japan Law Interpret Association, a group of court interpreters and judiciary-related people, plans to carry out its own qualification examination in November.

See: The Japan Times