Spanish proves invaluable

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr ROSA MIJARES is new to civil proceedings, but Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Freddie Miller says her ability to translate Spanish has already proved invaluable.

¿Habla español? Rosa Mijares in Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Freddie Miller's office does speak Spanish, and the judge says it's proved invaluable already.

Mijares is a Jasper native who has worked at Dickerson and Christus Jasper Memorial Hospitals. Her family and the Millers have known each other for years. She's been in the judge's office two months now.

"She interpets for anyone who needs her in the courthouse," Miller said. "We've done a marriage, a Spanish wedding, where I presided and she interpreted for me."

Mijares is fluent Spanish but is still learning the challenges of translating civil proceedings. She will attend JP clerk's school in Galveston in the coming months.