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County honors Creole interpreter who helped secure guilty verdict in a Baldwin County murder case
Summary
The district attorney and a major crimes prosecutor publicly thanked a Creole interpreter named Shirley for translating for immigrant witnesses during a murder prosecution that resulted in a guilty verdict; sentencing is pending and commissioners asked staff to seek formal interpreter listing with the Administrative Office of Courts.
The Baldwin County Commission recognized Shirley, a Creole interpreter who assisted prosecutors and investigators in a murder prosecution that resulted in a guilty verdict last month.
Robert Wilters, the district attorney, and Patrick Doggett, the major crimes prosecutor, described Shirley's work during the investigation and trial. Wilters said Shirley translated for immigrant occupants of a home who did not speak English and that his office relied on those translations to build the case. Wilters said he presented the translation qualifications and testimony to Judge Stankoski; a guilty verdict was returned last month and sentencing remains pending.
Wilters recounted that the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) list of certified interpreters includes only one Creole interpreter across several pages of the list; he and staff described Shirley as a local, credible resource who volunteered repeatedly. Wilters said Shirley repeatedly told investigators that "it's just my duty," a phrase Wilters relayed as summarizing Shirley's willingness to help.
Following the recognition, a commissioner asked Wilters and Doggett to pursue adding Shirley to the AOC interpreter list so she could be available formally for future court work.
The county presented Shirley with thanks and invited her to remain engaged with local law enforcement and court staff. The commission did not record any formal motion to fund interpreter services or to change hiring practices; the request recorded was to explore adding Shirley to the AOC list.
