Administrative Procedures for Professional Ethics Proceedings

ATA Policy on Ethics Procedures

I. Introduction

(a) The American Translators Association, Inc. (“ATA”) is a nonprofit, tax exempt professional association of translators and interpreters dedicated to the promotion and recognition of the translation and interpreting professions and, in particular, to the formulation and maintenance of standards of professional ethics, practices, and competence.

The ATA has adopted a Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (“Code”) that all ATA members must affirm, share, and commit to abide by. Violations of the Code or Article III, Section 6 of the ATA Bylaws will result in sanctions imposed under these Procedures.

These Procedures are intended to establish the appropriate action to be taken by ATA in response to alleged violations of the ATA Code and/or ATA Bylaws by ATA members while ensuring due process to all parties under the ATA Bylaws and applicable ATA policies.

(b) Article III, Section 6 of the ATA Bylaws sets forth the grounds for sanctions under these
Procedures; they are as follows:

1. Conviction of a felony or other crime of moral turpitude under federal or state law in
a matter related to the practice of, or qualifications for, professional activity.
2. Gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of professional services or other unethical or unprofessional conduct based on demonstrable and serious violations of the Code.
3. Fraud or misrepresentation in the application for or maintenance of ATA membership, professional certification, or other professional recognition or credential.
(c) These Procedures shall apply to all complaints received by the Ethics Committee (“Committee”) about an ATA member, whether initiated by another ATA member, ATA, or any non-ATA member (individual or entity). Actions taken under these Procedures do not constitute enforcement of the law, although referral to appropriate federal, state, or local government agencies may be made in reference to a member’s conduct at any stage of the process if appropriate.

Complainants are not entitled to any relief or damages by virtue of this process, although they will receive notice of the actions taken.
Complaints involving allegations of defamation or those seeking judicial-type remedy shall not be considered under these Procedures.
Complaints of a purely commercial nature that do not involve any alleged violation of the Code fall under the ATA Policy on Non-Intervention in Commercial Disputes. (See the Commentary to these Procedures for examples of each type of complaint.) If, however, there is a colorable ethical component to a complaint, e.g. repeated examples of conduct that in the aggregate rise to the level of an unethical course of dealing, such complaints shall be considered and investigated as potential violations of the Code under these Procedures, notwithstanding that some aspects of these complaints may fall into the category of what is normally referred to as being “of a commercial” nature.

If you want to read the complete document for Ethics Procedure, please click on the link for the attachment.
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