(a) Court interpreters employed by the trial courts shall be permitted to engage in outside employment or enterprises, except where that activity would violate the professional conduct requirements set forth in Rule 984.4 of the California Rules of Court, would interfere with the employee’s performance of his or her duties for the trial courts, or would be incompatible, inconsistent, or in conflict with the duties performed by the employee for the trial courts.
(b) Unless the parties consent, an interpreter may not be appointed by the trial court to interpret in a proceeding after having previously interpreted on behalf of one of the parties, rather than on behalf of the court, in that same matter. An interpreter shall disclose that type of prior involvement to the trial court.
(c) An interpreter employed by a trial court is prohibited from doing any of the following:
(1) Receiving or accepting, directly or indirectly, a gift, including money, service, gratuity, favor, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or any other thing of value from anyone who is doing or seeking to do business of any kind with the trial court or whose activities are regulated or controlled in any way by the trial court, under circumstances from which it reasonably could be inferred that the gift was intended to influence the employee in the performance of his or her official duties or was intended as a reward for official action of the employee.
(2) Using confidential information acquired by virtue of trial court employment for the employee’s private gain or advantage, or for the private gain or advantage of another, or to the employer’s detriment.
(3) Using trial court facilities, equipment, or supplies for personal gain or advantage or for the private gain or advantage of another.
(4) Using the prestige or influence of trial court office or employment for personal gain or advantage or advantage of another.
(5) Using the trial court’s electronic mail facilities to communicate or promote personal causes or gain.
(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1047, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)