Advisory Bodies Archive

LAP Joint Working Group

The Joint Working Group for California’s Language Access Plan developed a comprehensive, statewide, language access plan (LAP) for the judiciary to be able to expand meaningful access for limited-English-proficient court users.

Meetings
Members

Working Group Members

The working group was composed of two Judicial Council advisory groups: Access & Fairness Advisory Committee and the Court Interpreters Advisory Panel, and also included bench officers, court staff, and certified and registered court interpreters (both contractors and court employees).

Co-chairs

Hon. Maria P. Rivera, Co-chair
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal,
First Appellate District, Division Four
Member, Access and Fairness Advisory
Committee

Hon. Manuel J. Covarrubias, Co-chair
Judge of the Superior Court of California,
County of Ventura
Member, Court Interpreters Advisory Panel

Members

Hon. Steven K. Austin
Assistant Presiding Judge of the Superior
Court of California, County of Contra Costa

Mr. Bao Luu
Certified Court Interpreter
Superior Court of California, County of Orange

Mr. Kenneth W. Babcock
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Law Center

Hon. Miguel Márquez
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal
Sixth Appellate District

Mr. Jaeis Chon
Certified Court Interpreter
Independent Contractor

Ms. Lisa McNaughton
Certified Court Interpreter
Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma

Ms. Tracy Clark, MA, SC:L
Manager, Court Interpreting Services
Superior Court of California, County of Ventura

Ms. Thuy Thi Nguyen
General Counsel
Peralta Community College District

Ms. Debra A. Donson
Certified Court Interpreter
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Ms. Ivette Peña
Court Counsel
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Hon. Dennis Hayashi
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda

Hon. Rebecca S. Riley
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura

Ms. Janet Hudec
Certified Court Interpreter
Superior Court of California, County of Madera

Mr. Michael Roddy
Court Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

Ms. Oleksandra Johnson
Certified Court Interpreter
Independent Contractor

Mr. José H. Varela
Public Defender
Marin County Public Defender

Ms. Kristine Kussman
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California, County of Imperial

Ms. Christina M. Volkers
Court Executive Officer
Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino

Ms. Ginger Lamar
Court Services Manager
Superior Court of California, County of Orange

Hon. Laurie D. Zelon
Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District, Division Seven

Judicial Council Committee Staff

Mr. Douglas G. Denton
Senior Court Services Analyst
Court Language Access Support Program

News & reports

February 2, 2015: Executive Summary for the Language Access Plan (coming soon in Spanish and other languages).

January 22, 2015: At its public meeting on January 22, the Judicial Council adopted a language access plan for the California courts (Press Release). The Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts is the result of an 18-month effort by the Joint Working Group that included public hearings and a 60-day formal public comment period on a draft of the plan.

September 30, 2014: The formal public comment period on the draft Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts is now closed. The Joint Working Group for California’s Language Access Plan accepted formal public comment on the draft plan through September 29, 2014. An executive summary of the draft plan is available in English and Spanish. Following the public comment process, the draft plan will be revised and a final plan will be presented to the Judicial Council for its review and adoption.

August 14, 2014: Joint Working Group submits informational report to the Judicial Council regarding the draft Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts. Presentation (8/22). Audiocast(link is external) (8/22)

July 31, 2014: Public Comment Sought on Proposed Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts. Deadline for comments is September 29, 2014.

31 de julio, 2014: Se solicita Comentario Público sobre el Plan preliminar Estratégico para Acceso Lingüístico en los Tribunales de California. La fecha límite para comentarios es el 29 de Septiembre 2014.

About

Date established

Sunset: March 2015

The Joint Working Group for California's Language Access Plan will develop a comprehensive, statewide, language access plan (LAP) for the judiciary to be able to expand meaningful access for limited-English-proficient court users. The plan will provide a consistent approach for language access throughout the judiciary.

When the LAP is adopted by the council, which is anticipated to occur in January 2015, an implementation plan will be developed that will identify the costs required to phase in the LAP recommendations over the next five years (2015-2020). It is anticipated that efficiencies identified in the plan can provide significant long-term savings for the courts.

Joint Working Group for California's Language Access Plan
Judicial Council of California
Court Operations Services
Operations & Programs
c/o Douglas G. Denton
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102
LAP@jud.ca.gov(link sends email)