Das neue Gerichtsdolmetschergesetz – Änderungen in Qualifizierung und Beeidigung von Dolmetschern und Übersetzern in Deutschland

On January 1, 2023, the Court Interpreters Act came into force in Germany. This is a national law intended to standardize the swearing-in of interpreters for judicial purposes across the country. At the same time, 13 new translator and interpreter laws were enacted at the state level, introducing higher qualification requirements and additional regulations that impact the entire profession of sworn interpreters and translators. By the end of 2027 at the latest, interpreters and translators who were sworn in before 2023 will lose their status if they do not meet the new qualification requirements. The 2023 Court Interpreters Act and the corresponding state-level translator and interpreter laws were apparently aimed at creating a uniform regulatory framework for language mediation professions in the judicial sector. However, this goal has only been partially achieved. This article provides an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the new law and summarizes the resulting changes for translators, interpreters, and courts.