Office on Equality and Access Recognized For Its Assistance to Pacific Island Nations
Posted on Apr 14, 2011 in Featured NewsThe Hawaii State Judiciary’s Office on Equality and Access to the Courts (OEAC) received a “Collaboration With Other Entities” award from the National Consortium for Language Access in the Courts. The award was presented to OEAC Program Director Debi Tulang-De Silva and Court Interpreting Services Coordinator Melody Kubo at the Consortium’s annual meeting held April 3-6 in Las Vegas.
Hawaii was recognized for its assistance to the Pacific Judicial Council. Since 2008, the OEAC has been providing court interpreting training to the Pacific Judicial Council’s members, which include Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
The OEAC is responsible for developing, implementing and administering statewide programs and policies designed to improve access to the courts for linguistic minorities. Among other responsibilities, the office recruits, registers, educates, and tests interpreters.
Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico also received a “Collaboration With Other Entities” award.