The Use of Qualified Court Interpreters in Ohio And Their Interpreter Certification Requirements
On November 14, 2015, an article entitled, “Ohio Domestic Relations and Juvenile Forms Translated in Five Languages” was posted to this blog. In it, I discussed how recently the Ohio Supreme Court made key juvenile and domestic relations forms available in the most used languages in Ohio including: Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese and Arabic. To read the full text of that article click here.
While these documents are a huge step toward litigants being able to engage in “meaningful participation” in the proceedings in which they are involved, the fact of the matter is, the understanding and filing of these forms is only one hurdle that must be overcome for deaf and non-English speaking parties. Despite the fact that the party was able to understand the paperwork leading up to the court proceeding or hearing, the litigant must still be fully involved and be aware of what is going on at the time of the actual proceeding. As a result, the use of an interpreter is often necessary to ensure this occurs.
Ohio Rules of Superintendence, Sup.R. 88(A) requires a foreign language interpreter be appointed where … Read More... “Court Interpreters in Ohio Provide Accuracy In Legal Proceedings”
The Federal Reserve Board has recently published a working paper entitled, “Credit Scores and Committed Relationships.” In it, authors Jane Dokko, Geng Li and Jessica Hayes explore the potential correlation between one’s credit score and their likelihood of being a good partner or spouse. The study’s results seem to suggest that people with higher credit scores are more likely to be in committed relationships. In addition, the authors argue that how well a couple’s credit scores match initially, may also be a good indicator of whether the relationship has staying power. To read the full study see, 
Around this time of year, it is impossible to go anywhere without hearing or seeing something reminding us to “give thanks” and to get into the “holiday” spirit. However, as the joy and excitement of the season spreads, so does the stress and anxiety that goes along with it. While it may seem strange to those of us who believe this is the “most wonderful time of the year,” for the victims of child abuse, it can actually be the worst.
Obviously going through an unexpected or difficult divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences in an individual’s life. While many clients can navigate the process unassisted without professional help, others really cannot. Some people think that they can talk with family members or friends to help pull them through. Typically, however, those who are deeply distressed really need professional help by a therapist to guide them through the entire process and transition to their life post-divorce. Many people view having a therapist or counselor as a sign of weakness. It certainly is not. My experience as a divorce attorney for over 35 years is that when the attorney and therapist work together, it can often eliminate years of paralysis for a client.
Over the years, the U.S. Department of Justice has fashioned several consent decrees with several states and has negotiated with them to meet their obligation to provide language access. Ohio has been active for years in supporting the rights of people in the court system whose English ability is limited.
A recent study published by The Review of Economics and Statistics concludes that combat assignments increase the probability of intimate partner domestic violence and child abuse by active-duty military members. Resul Cesur of the University of Connecticut Finance Department and Joseph J. Sabia of San Diego State University Department of Economics, claim to have produced the first study to consider the effect of war service on domestic violence. While they admit that several studies exist which explore the effect of war and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on violent crime in general, they assert that none exist which focus specifically domestic violence. To access the complete study click 