Interpreter boycott disrupts high-profile case
Norway's court system faces a crisis as qualified interpreters refuse assignments during one of the country's most watched trials. The case against Marius Borg Høiby, member of the extended royal family, has been delayed because Oslo tingrett (Oslo District Court) cannot secure an interpreter for a key witness.
The timing is no accident. Court interpreters are staging a three-day boycott from February 24-26, rejecting all new assignments for courts and police. "We will consistently say no to new assignments during these three days," says Alexandra Therese Solaas, a state-authorized English interpreter. "The justice sector needs to understand how dependent they actually are on us."
The strike targets the government's decision to slash interpreter fees by roughly 175 kroner per hour, reducing compensation from 4/5 to 2/3 of the legal aid rate. For a profession already stretched thin, this represents the breaking point.
Justice system scrambles for solutions
The immediate impact is visible in courtrooms across Norway. Oslo tingrett admits case administrators now spend "significantly more time" finding qualified interpreters. Some hearings proceed via remote interpretation, others switch to English when possible, and some cases face postponement.
The quality gap is stark. Solaas warns that detention hearings with unqualified interpreters can stretch to three or four hours, compared to one hour with properly trained professionals. "We've heard of cases where mistranslation in interrogations created errors throughout the entire case," she notes.
Paulina Slusarczyk, chair of Tolkeforeningen, argues the cuts will backfire financially. "Cases will last longer, costing not just the interpreter but everyone sitting in court using more time. Mistranslation triggers appeals and new rounds of quality assurance."
The government's justification rings hollow to practitioners. State Secretary Gunn Karin Gjul (Labour Party) claims court assignments remain "attractive" due to their longer duration, but interpreters report the opposite. Many qualified professionals are abandoning justice sector work entirely.
False economy threatens legal rights
The 22 million kroner savings target looks more unrealistic as courts struggle with basic operations. According to Nettavisen, the Høiby trial involves complex charges inclUDIng rape and violence allegations, precisely the type of sensitive case where interpretation errors can derail justice.
The interpreter shortage reveals a basic flaw in Norway's approach to justice sector economics. Cutting professional fees to save money while maintaining the same caseload was always going to reduce quality. Now courts face the choice between proceeding with unqualified interpreters or delaying cases indefinitely.
Oslo tingrett confirmed the trial period runs through March 19, but the interpreter crisis threatens to extend proceedings well beyond that timeline. The government's refusal to reverse the cuts before the Salary Committee reports in 2026 suggests this standoff will continue.
Expect more high-profile cases to face delays as qualified interpreters abandon the justice sector entirely, forcing Norway to choose between legal standards and budget targets.
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