ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — For non-English speakers, courtroom interpreters help bridge the language barrier during some difficult moments.

Without them, experts say non-English speakers can be left in the dark during proceedings, trials or other court events.

“It’s so hard to listen to what the judge is saying, translate what the client is saying, translate the questions and be able to do it in a quick and efficient manner,” said Orlando attorney Dr. Irene Pons, who is also an associate lecturer in legal studies at the University of Central Florida. “If they can’t express themselves from a verbal point of view in the courthouse, then how are they supposed to advocate for their case in their particular position?”

Helping those who struggle with English in a difficult situation is why Dalia Romero, the Spanish interpreter for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, said she loves her job.

“I can relate to someone needing an interpreter because I was in that position when we first moved here,” she said.

When Romero first arrived to Central Florida from Puerto Rico as a teenager, she didn’t know English, but that all changed after she got a job at fast food restaurant.

“I went to the job interview with my sister she was a few years older than me,” she said, noting that she got the job with a lie.

“(The Dunkin' Donuts manager) asked my sister, ‘What about your sister? Can she speak English? because she’s really quiet,'" Romero said with a laugh. "I nod my head and I looked at him and I made a sign like ‘yes’ and he said, ‘We’ll have to see,’ Only for him to find out few months later, ‘Can you just keep your mouth shut?'"

The more coffee and donuts she served the better her English got.

“I picked up the language quite fast,” she said.

Nowadays, Romero uses her talents to help Spanish speakers across Osceola and Orange counties.

Last year, the Ninth Judicial Court reported interpreters helped with more than 10,000 court events.

Romero worked many of them because she was one only of a few interpreters able to work from home during the pandemic.

The Ninth Judicial Court also provides interpreters for Creole and sign language, but the majority of the time Spanish interpreters are needed.

In Orange County, more than 30% of the population is Hispanic; in Osceola County Hispanics make up more than half of the population.