Court Interpreter Certification Legal Terminology & Specialized Vocabulary 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the legal meaning of 'arraignment' in U.S. criminal procedure?
- The sentencing phase of a trial
- A formal court appearance where charges are read and a plea is entered (Correct answer)
- A pre-trial hearing on evidence admissibility
- The process of selecting a jury
Correct answer: A formal court appearance where charges are read and a plea is entered
An arraignment is the initial court appearance where the defendant is formally informed of charges and asked to enter a plea.
Question 2: How should a court interpreter handle a term in the source language for which no direct equivalent exists in the target language?
- Leave the term untranslated
- Borrow the source-language term and provide a brief parenthetical explanation (Correct answer)
- Substitute the closest approximate word
- Ask the court to rephrase the statement
Correct answer: Borrow the source-language term and provide a brief parenthetical explanation
When no direct equivalent exists, interpreters may retain the source term and add a concise explanatory gloss to preserve both form and meaning.
Question 3: What does 'in limine' mean in U.S. court proceedings?
- At the start of the court day
- A motion made before or at the start of trial to limit certain evidence or testimony (Correct answer)
- A judicial decision issued after deliberation
- The closing argument phase
Correct answer: A motion made before or at the start of trial to limit certain evidence or testimony
A motion in limine is a pretrial motion requesting that the court exclude or limit certain evidence before it is presented to the jury.
Question 4: What is the term for a judge's instruction to the jury to disregard a statement just made in court?
- Sustain
- Strike from the record (Correct answer)
- Overrule
- Continuance
Correct answer: Strike from the record
When a judge orders a statement stricken from the record, the jury is instructed to disregard it, though it has already been heard.
Question 5: Which Latin term is used to refer to a court's authority to hear a particular type of case?
- Mens rea
- Stare decisis
- Jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- Locus delicti
Correct answer: Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of a court to hear and decide a specific type of case based on subject matter, geography, or parties involved.
Question 6: A court interpreter encounters the term 'nolo contendere.' What does this plea mean?
- Not guilty
- No contest — the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment (Correct answer)
- Guilty with mitigating circumstances
- The defendant refuses to enter a plea
Correct answer: No contest — the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the punishment
Nolo contendere is a plea where the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts the conviction and its penalties, and cannot be used as an admission in a civil case.
Court Interpreter Certification Legal Terminology & Specialized Vocabulary 2
What is the legal meaning of 'arraignment' in U.S. criminal procedure?