Andy Thompson has helped navigate divorce cases, spoken for defendants in cases from speeding to theft and sifted through piles of legal documents - but he's no lawyer.
Thompson, also a Marietta city councilman, is called on about six times each year to work as a Spanish interpreter in the local court system, giving a voice to defendants who might otherwise be without.
"I think without this, things would get really muddled and they might not have a true opportunity to defend themselves," Thompson said. "I'm happy to help any way I can. It's an important job they do in the courts."
Thompson began the interpreter work about 12 years ago and is the go-to-guy for any case where a party speaks Spanish and little or no English, said Sharon Smith, deputy clerk for the Marietta Municipal Court.
"He's our main one," she said. "Sometimes we use him once a month, sometimes a couple times a month ... he's a big help."
Smith said the court also recently had to call on a sign language interpreter, but no other languages have needed translation yet.
His work in the courts has improved his Spanish and taught him a variety of new words, said Thompson, who practices the language at home with his wife, who is a Spanish teacher.
"The first few times I did this, I took a dictionary in with me," he said. "But you get used to it, especially the typical cases which come up a lot, like driving without an operator's license, speeding, disorderly conduct. When something like theft comes up, it's a different array of words and at times it can get complicated. I've had to look things up on the Internet."
The defendants are always grateful to have a voice and someone to explain the process, Thompson said.
"They have to be able to understand the consequences and all the legal terms," he said. "I've found that you can work your way through it even if you don't know a technical term."
Aside from assisting in court proceedings, Thompson sometimes works with public defenders and law enforcement, and interprets legal documents, to make sure all sides understand everything they should.
"When I started out, I was nervous and a little self-conscious," he said. "You don't want to let anybody down. But you start to gain confidence as you go."
In addition to the intricacies of the justice system, Thompson said serving as an interpreter has taught him a lot about the Spanish-speaking community in the area and those who pass through, including the market demand for workers and how some cross back and forth from Mexico to the U.S.
"It's been a fascinating process for me," he said. "I've gotten to know a lot of people in the Latino community and I've really learned a lot."
