I believe my experience with both our criminal justice system and Latin American systems helps me interpret in a way that minimizes misunderstandings. My goal is to use common legal language Hispanics might recognize from their own legal culture that at the same time accurately conveys what the speaker is attempting to communicate. I believe this approach helps reduce the anxiety of Hispanics when they appear in court. Also, when I interpret in Commissioner Meurer’s court, the Dane County interpreter is freed up to work elsewhere and the county has less need to contract additional interpreters.
Uruguay RPCV Robert Selk is a volunteer Spanish interpreter for the Dane County Court
Know Your Madisonian: Robert A. Selk
Name: Robert A. Selk
Hometown: Originally from New Holstein, in Madison since 1978.
Age: 65
Family: Spouse, Christine Selk; son, Andrew Selk.
Occupation: Retired assistant attorney general
Hobbies: Fly fishing and tying fishing flies, foreign travel, cooking, sea kayaking.
What are your volunteer activities? For past five years I have volunteered weekly as a Spanish interpreter before Commissioner Todd Meurer in Dane County Circuit Court. Also, I have been with the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited for more than 25 years and currently serve on its executive board. I work on stream restoration projects, fundraising and the Shabazz High School Project Green Teen. I also serve on the Livestock Facility Siting Review Board and have served on various environmental study groups and task forces. Last year, I went to Cuenca, Ecuador, with a medical team and served as interpreter and expect to continue this work in alternate years.
Why is what you do important? I believe my experience with both our criminal justice system and Latin American systems helps me interpret in a way that minimizes misunderstandings. My goal is to use common legal language Hispanics might recognize from their own legal culture that at the same time accurately conveys what the speaker is attempting to communicate. I believe this approach helps reduce the anxiety of Hispanics when they appear in court. Also, when I interpret in Commissioner Meurer’s court, the Dane County interpreter is freed up to work elsewhere and the county has less need to contract additional interpreters.
How did you end up in law? After the Peace Corps and graduate school, I began my career as a college teacher. But after a couple of years, I wanted to be more engaged in public life. Law was the answer.
How did you learn to speak Spanish? I minored in Spanish at UW-Oshkosh and also studied Spanish my junior year at the University of Puerto Rico and a summer at the Universidad Veracruzana in Jalapa, Mexico. I received advanced language classes as part of my training to be a Peace Corps volunteer in Uruguay, where I served for two years as an agrarian youth club organizer. I had additional Spanish at Indiana University where I received an M.A. in Latin American Studies.
What was the most rewarding professional experience you had? The most rewarding experience at the Department of Justice was working with Department of Natural Resources technical and enforcement staff to prosecute polluters. I also was very gratified to be able to work from 1995 to 2005 advising governments in Central America on reforming criminal justice and developing the prosecutorial function.
What brought you to Madison? We came to Madison in 1978 for the work opportunities. Having retired we could live anywhere, but we think Madison has everything: a vibrant, open community, excellent health care, the university, Overture, the lakes and great trout fishing.
If you could change anything about Madison what would it be? I would love to see Wisconsin develop an intercity passenger rail system with connections to Chicago and Minneapolis.
— Interview by Ed Treleven
