Legal Terminology & Specialized Vocabulary Flashcards

What is the legal meaning of 'arraignment' in U.S. criminal procedure?

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.

How should a court interpreter handle a term in the source language for which no direct equivalent exists in the target language?

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.

What does 'in limine' mean in U.S. court proceedings?

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.

What is the term for a judge's instruction to the jury to disregard a statement just made in court?

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.

Which Latin term is used to refer to a court's authority to hear a particular type of case?

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.

A court interpreter encounters the term 'nolo contendere.' What does this plea mean?

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.