In May of 1978, after a comprehensive survey of the language needs of California citizens, the enactment of AB 2400 made California the first state to mandate court interpreter services and testing of interpreter skills and competency. In January 1993, the Legislature required the council to certify and register court interpreters and adopt standards and requirements for interpreter education. (Sen. Bill 1304; Stats. 1992, ch. 770.) At the same time, the Legislature also created the court interpreters' fund, and mandated data collection and periodic study of language use and interpreter need in California.
As a result of SB 1304, the Chief Justice appointed the Court Interpreters Advisory Panel as a new Judicial Council standing advisory committee. The Court Interpreters Advisory Panel is unique in that a majority of the voting members must be court interpreters.
California has the largest pool of certified and registered interpreters in the country. There are over 1750 certified and or registered interpreters currently on the Judicial Council's List of Certified Court Interpreters and Registered Court Interpreters.
See also: Joint Working Group for California's Language Access Plan
The Joint Working Group is composed of two Judicial Council advisory groups: Access & Fairness Advisory Committee and the Court Interpreters Advisory Panel, and also includes bench officers, court staff, and certified and registered court interpreters (both contractors and court employees).