Stetson hosts "Essentials of Trial Interpreting: A Mock Trial Experience"

Stetson presented a mock trial for interpreters on March 4 in the Eleazer Courtroom, with Trial Team Director and Professor Julia Metts acting as judge. Photo by Merve Ozcan. — Stetson presented a mock trial that was used to train sign language interpreters on March 4 in the Eleazer Courtroom, with Director of Trial Teams and Professor Julia Metts acting as judge. Photo by Merve Ozcan.

Stetson University College of Law’s Center for Excellence in Elder Law co-sponsored with Absolute Quality Interpreting Services (AQI) a weekend workshop on “Essentials of Trial Interpreting: A Mock Trial Experience,” March 3-4 on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

SC:L certified sign language interpreters Ben Hall and Linda Ross presented at the two-day session, covering the essential elements of trial interpreting for the deaf and featuring a mock trial experience conducted by Stetson Law.

Stetson hosted "Essentials of Trial Interpreting: A Mock Trial Experience" on March 4 in Gulfport. Photo by Merve Ozcan. — Stetson hosted “Essentials of Trial Interpreting: A Mock Trial Experience” on March 4 in Gulfport. Photo by Merve Ozcan.

Sign language interpreters for the deaf were invited to interpret a mock courtroom trial in Stetson’s Eleazer Courtroom, a teaching courtroom on Stetson’s Gulfport campus designed as a model for accessibility.

“The Workshop was designed to be a collaborative learning experience for both sign language interpreters and Stetson law students,” explained Professor Jason Palmer, one of the organizers of the workshop. “Providing this mock trial training in an actual courtroom to sign language interpreters, the only one of its kind, reinforces Stetson’s commitment to community outreach, as well as providing access to justice through unique educational opportunities.”

Hallenross and Associates, LLC, provided 1.6 CEU credits for interpreters.