Translating Trust In U.S. Courts
“Everybody should be so fortunate as to have a Sister Mary Judith Fleig in their lives,” says Dubois County Circuit Court Judge William Weikert.
As the English/Spanish translator for the court system in Jasper the past 13 years, Sister Mary Judith has endeared herself to Judge Weikert, Superior Court Judge Mark McConnell, a variety of legal personnel, and countless Hispanics who cannot speak English and suddenly find themselves arrested and embroiled in a legal system they know nothing about.
The Hispanics thrown into the American arena of law are scared, confused and full of questions. And most, knowing only of the often untrustworthy legal system in their native country, are wary of a U.S. court. But then, they are fortunate to have Sister Mary Judith, a Sister of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, come into their lives. They are entitled to understand their rights, and she makes that happen.
Many area Hispanics already know her from her receptionist duties at the Huntingburg Guadalupe Center, the home base for the Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Evansville. So she provides a familiar face, a trusting presence and an accurate translation service when it’s needed most. Both for the Hispanics and the American professionals trying to ensure the accused receive all of their rights.
Judge Weikert describes Sister Mary Judith as a kind, compassionate lady, and feels her Benedictine life contributes to that. “It’s to the court’s benefit that she’s compassionate,” he says, “as 99 percent are criminal cases she’s working with. Sister does a really good job helping these people understand the court system here is different than what they’ve ever experienced. When someone doesn’t speak the language talked in the courtroom, and doesn’t trust any court system they’ve ever known, I think if you didn’t have someone like Sister Mary Judith translating to them, it wouldn’t be very effective, because they still wouldn’t trust it. They still wouldn’t trust me up there in that robe, wouldn’t trust the system, and would think it’s going to be against them. When you have somebody like Sister, it makes the system work better, it makes the defendants understand we have a justice system that tries to enforce the rights of defendants. If we didn’t have someone who was as competent as Sister in translating and communicating with the defendants, we’d be in trouble.”
Sister Mary Judith often sees her role as being an advocate, as being of service to someone who has nowhere else to turn. Yet she fully realizes the seriousness of the court cases. That’s as clear as the pained expression on her face when she recalls arrest details.
“I can’t condone actions that are wrong,” she says, “but I can be kind to that person. Sometimes, that’s all they’ve got, is someone to be kind to them.”
She never forgets her Benedictine value of seeing Christ in every person. As a Christian, she can’t see it any other way. And she won’t let the accused know her thoughts on their guilt or innocence. Regardless, that person is another human being and she needs to have a relationship with them. Many people appreciate that Benedictines are not judgmental; it’s yet another value they live by.
Sister Mary Judith takes comfort in simply being there for Hispanics going to court. She knows she is someone they can trust, and how important that is. And that trust level in her goes beyond the Hispanics – it extends to the judges, lawyers, court reporters and probation officers.
Besides Judge Weikert, she translates for Superior Court Judge Mark McConnell, attorneys and their clients, offenders and their probation officers, at depositions, in trials, at sentencings, at meetings with Alcohol and Drug Program administrators, at traffic court, and in civil court proceedings.
“Without her assistance, the delivery of justice in Dubois County would be incomplete,” says Judge McConnell. “She is an invaluable asset to the courts. Sister is very flexible in making herself available when needed and is always cheerful and conscientious in fulfilling her oath to accurately interpret for the court.
“Without Sister’s help we would not be able to fulfill constitutional requirements. Sister is making a significant contribution to assure the Hispanic population of the area has access to the justice system. Her work allows them to understand the proceedings and make informed decisions.”
Sister Mary Judith’s advantage is having spoken Spanish continuously when she served at the Ferdinand Benedictines’ monastery in Guatemala from 1971 to 1998. She was immersed in the language daily, and learned it well. After returning to Ferdinand, she was asked in 2001 by a high school classmate who was a lawyer, Joe Verkamp, if she’d like to be a court translator. She’s been the interpreter for the county’s justice system ever since. The workload varies; a typical week can have several appointments. Otherwise, she’s working at the Guadalupe Center, where she can be reached easily for a translation need. Sometimes she’s called to a police station, or the Southern Hills counseling center, or the Department of Child Services. Those are normally difficult situations for the Hispanics involved, and Sister Mary Judith is a welcome sight.
She often does more than translate. She’s been around the judicial system long enough to be able to explain confusing legal terms, and the reasoning behind the various steps of an often lengthy justice process.
Occasionally she’ll translate for a happier event. Like a couple’s wedding vows before a judge. Or the legal adoption of a child. Or for a case that ends in a not guilty verdict.
But more likely the situations have clients frustrated, disappointed, or emotional. And Sister Mary Judith is the one right in the middle, trying her best to calm and soothe a tense atmosphere.
“The fulfillment comes from helping someone in need,” she says. “Because they need someone. That’s why I do it. A lot of times, they ask me to pray for them. And not just for legal problems, but for family problems, too. I will ask fellow sisters to please pray for a case. Because it’s difficult for me, and it’s difficult for them.” As she agrees to pray for the Hispanics, she can sense the calm her answer delivers, and detects their expressions of relief and thanks knowing that the sisters will be there for them.
“She knows the Hispanic community really well, by them going to the Guadalupe Center,” says Judge Weikert. “That probably instills some trust in her, for the defendants who need her translation. They know she’s trying to help them.
“Sometimes it’s painful to judges and lawyers about what we have to discuss in court. I can tell by her face at times (it) hurts her. But she does it, and does it well. Because she has the relationship with these people, I think she lends credibility to the whole criminal justice system, just by being who she is.
“She’ll be around, I hope, forever. We would absolutely be lost without her. Because I don’t think we’d ever find anybody to replace her who has the compassion and the care that she does.”
