ST PAUL, Minn. (May 5, 2026) — Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson has declared Wednesday, May 6, Minnesota Court Interpreter Day.
“National Interpreter Appreciation Day provides an opportunity to honor the skills, integrity, linguistic diversity, and dedication to public service of court interpreters across our state,” Chief Justice Hudson said in her official proclamation. “It is fitting and proper to set aside this annual day of recognition affirming our collective commitment to language access as a cornerstone of a fair, inclusive, and equal justice system.”
Court interpreters allow every person to stand before the law with the same voice, understanding, and opportunity to be heard. The Minnesota Judicial Branch has 14 staff interpreters, and works with hundreds of independent interpreters, who provide interpreting services during court proceedings. Since 2019, court interpreters have rendered interpretation into 194 languages, including sign language, for people throughout Minnesota.
“Minnesota is home to a richly diverse population whose residents speak dozens of languages and represent communities from across the globe, and whose deaf and hard of hearing residents communicate through non-spoken languages and other means of expression with equal richness and cultural tradition, reflecting our state's long and proud history as a place of welcome to all who seek to be fully heard and understood,” the Chief Justice writes in the proclamation.
The right to a court interpreter is grounded in the 5th, 6th, and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and is guaranteed under Minnesota law to qualifying parties in court proceedings where such a right has been established.
“Court interpreters are invaluable to our commitment to equal access to justice,” said Rosalina Sanchez, the Court Interpreter Program coordinator for the Minnesota Judicial Branch. “They are an essential conduit between individuals and the justice system, bridging language and communication barriers for those participating in court proceedings.”
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