COURT INTERPRETER 2026 CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Assistant Federal Public Defender - ✔✔The public defender fulfills the United States
Constitution's Sixth
Amendment right to counsel by representing those charged with a crime
who cannot afford an attorney. The assistant federal public defender
provides legal representation to clients charged with federal criminal
offenses or involved in other matters mandated by the Act; meets with
clients to establish meaningful attorney-client relationships; directs the
defense investigation of alleged crimes or offenses; researches case law;
prepares pretrial motions; reviews material received from the government
as pretrial discovery; engages in plea negotiations; determines trial
strategies and defense approaches that affect jury selection, opening
statements and closing arguments, client testimony, and cross-
examination of witnesses; conducts sentencing investigations and
prepares sentencing memoranda, and represents clients at sentencing
hearings; prepares post-trial motions; and represents clients at trial, on
appeal, and in other courtroom proceedings.
✔✔Assistant United States Attorney - ✔✔A USA; A federal prosecutor who assists the
U.S. Attorney in the judicial district by advocating the government's position in criminal
cases before the court.
✔✔Bail Bond - ✔✔The money or funds paid to secure the release of a person who has
been charged with a crime for a future appearance in court; written guaranty or pledge
which is purchased from a bonding company (usually an insurance firm) or by an
individual (called a "bondsman") as security to guarantee some form of performance,
including appearing for court hearings.
✔✔Bail/Bond Hearing - ✔✔A judicial proceeding where the court determines if a person
charged
with a criminal offense should be released on bail and trusted to make
any and all required court appearances up to and including a trial. If the court
determines that there is no reason to believe the defendant will fail to show up for court
appearances and that the accused is not likely to re-offend while on bail, it must release
the defendant subject to whatever terms and conditions are deemed appropriate under
the circumstances. Those conditions can require a defendant to maintain a specific
address, report to the police, and not have contact with victims and witnesses. In
addition, the court may require that one or more sureties pledge some assets or cash
(via a bond) to act as assurance that the defendant will comply with the conditions of
release.
✔✔Bench Trial - ✔✔A trial before a judge without a jury. The judge decides questions of
fact as well as questions of law.
,✔✔Booking - ✔✔The criminal justice system's process for creation of an administrative
record of those arrested.
✔✔Burden of Proof - ✔✔The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff
generally has
the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden
of proving the defendant's guilt.
✔✔Case Law - ✔✔The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for
legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and prior judicial
decisions.
✔✔Certified Interpreter - ✔✔An interpreter who has successfully passed all the required
components of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination administered
under the auspices of the Administrative Office. All staff court interpreters must be
federally certified court interpreters.
✔✔Challenge for Cause - ✔✔A challenge to a proposed juror based on the contention
that, as a matter
of law, the juror cannot decide the case at hand fairly and impartially. A
challenge for cause must be based on specific grounds. If granted, it has
the effect of excusing the prospective juror from service on the jury.
✔✔Chambers - ✔✔The offices of a judge and his or her staff.
✔✔Change of Plea - ✔✔A guilty plea in a criminal case where the defendant had
previously pled not guilty. It is referred to as a "change" because the defendant had pled
"not guilty" to the charges during a previous proceeding, usually during the post
indictment arraignment, and now has decided to plead guilty to the charges instead of
going to trial.
✔✔Charges - ✔✔A formal accusation made before a court by a prosecuting authority,
usually in the form of a "charging document."
✔✔Civil Hearing - ✔✔A hearing involving a dispute between individuals and/or
organizations. The facts of the dispute could involve a contract, a lease, a physical
injury experienced by an individual, a divorce, or many other issues. Nonetheless, all
disputes or unresolved conflicts between individuals ultimately may be solved through
civil litigation. Generally, the result desired by the person filing the lawsuit is to be
compensated for damages. An alternative result is to have the court order another
person to begin or stop some activity.
✔✔Clerk - ✔✔The court officer who oversees administrative functions, especially
, managing the flow of cases through the court. With respect to the Court Interpreters Act,
this is the clerk of the district court or the bankruptcy court or a court unit executive
designated by the chief judge of the district court to implement the Act.
✔✔Closing Argument - ✔✔The part of the trial at which each party summarizes the
evidence and
attempts to convince the judge or jury that the evidence supports its side of the case.
✔✔Colloqualism - ✔✔A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used
in
ordinary or familiar conversation.
✔✔CJA 21 Form - ✔✔A court form for Authorization and Voucher for Expert and Other
Services for payment requests under the Criminal Justice Act.
✔✔Common Law - ✔✔The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in
the
United States, which relies on the articulation of legal principles in a
historical succession of judicial decisions. Common law principles can be changed by
legislation.
✔✔Community Defender - ✔✔Although similar to a federal public defender, technically
it is actually a nonprofit corporation that receives federal grant money and acts more
independently from the federal judiciary. Community defenders engage in traditional
legal representation along with social service support, policymaking and lobbying
efforts, and community education or other outreach efforts.
✔✔Complaint (Civil) - ✔✔The initial pleading that starts a civil action and states the
basis for the
court's jurisdiction, the basis for the plaintiff's claim, and the demand for relief. In some
states, this pleading is called a petition
✔✔Complaint (Criminal) - ✔✔A written statement of the essential facts of the offense
charged, made upon oath before a magistrate judge.
✔✔Conference Interpreter - ✔✔An interpreter who works in multilingual meetings and
renders a
message from one language into another, naturally and fluently. Unlike court
interpreters, conference interpreters adopt the delivery, tone and convictions of the
speaker and often make necessary adjustments to the speech.
✔✔Consecutive Interpretation - ✔✔The mode of interpretation used to interpret
testimony given by a limited English proficiency (LEP) individual on the witness stand,
or other statements for the record involving questions and answers, as well as for
situations in which dialogue with the LEP individual develops, such as interviews. The
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔Assistant Federal Public Defender - ✔✔The public defender fulfills the United States
Constitution's Sixth
Amendment right to counsel by representing those charged with a crime
who cannot afford an attorney. The assistant federal public defender
provides legal representation to clients charged with federal criminal
offenses or involved in other matters mandated by the Act; meets with
clients to establish meaningful attorney-client relationships; directs the
defense investigation of alleged crimes or offenses; researches case law;
prepares pretrial motions; reviews material received from the government
as pretrial discovery; engages in plea negotiations; determines trial
strategies and defense approaches that affect jury selection, opening
statements and closing arguments, client testimony, and cross-
examination of witnesses; conducts sentencing investigations and
prepares sentencing memoranda, and represents clients at sentencing
hearings; prepares post-trial motions; and represents clients at trial, on
appeal, and in other courtroom proceedings.
✔✔Assistant United States Attorney - ✔✔A USA; A federal prosecutor who assists the
U.S. Attorney in the judicial district by advocating the government's position in criminal
cases before the court.
✔✔Bail Bond - ✔✔The money or funds paid to secure the release of a person who has
been charged with a crime for a future appearance in court; written guaranty or pledge
which is purchased from a bonding company (usually an insurance firm) or by an
individual (called a "bondsman") as security to guarantee some form of performance,
including appearing for court hearings.
✔✔Bail/Bond Hearing - ✔✔A judicial proceeding where the court determines if a person
charged
with a criminal offense should be released on bail and trusted to make
any and all required court appearances up to and including a trial. If the court
determines that there is no reason to believe the defendant will fail to show up for court
appearances and that the accused is not likely to re-offend while on bail, it must release
the defendant subject to whatever terms and conditions are deemed appropriate under
the circumstances. Those conditions can require a defendant to maintain a specific
address, report to the police, and not have contact with victims and witnesses. In
addition, the court may require that one or more sureties pledge some assets or cash
(via a bond) to act as assurance that the defendant will comply with the conditions of
release.
✔✔Bench Trial - ✔✔A trial before a judge without a jury. The judge decides questions of
fact as well as questions of law.
,✔✔Booking - ✔✔The criminal justice system's process for creation of an administrative
record of those arrested.
✔✔Burden of Proof - ✔✔The duty to prove disputed facts. In civil cases, a plaintiff
generally has
the burden of proving his or her case. In criminal cases, the government has the burden
of proving the defendant's guilt.
✔✔Case Law - ✔✔The law as established in previous court decisions. A synonym for
legal precedent. Akin to common law, which springs from tradition and prior judicial
decisions.
✔✔Certified Interpreter - ✔✔An interpreter who has successfully passed all the required
components of the Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination administered
under the auspices of the Administrative Office. All staff court interpreters must be
federally certified court interpreters.
✔✔Challenge for Cause - ✔✔A challenge to a proposed juror based on the contention
that, as a matter
of law, the juror cannot decide the case at hand fairly and impartially. A
challenge for cause must be based on specific grounds. If granted, it has
the effect of excusing the prospective juror from service on the jury.
✔✔Chambers - ✔✔The offices of a judge and his or her staff.
✔✔Change of Plea - ✔✔A guilty plea in a criminal case where the defendant had
previously pled not guilty. It is referred to as a "change" because the defendant had pled
"not guilty" to the charges during a previous proceeding, usually during the post
indictment arraignment, and now has decided to plead guilty to the charges instead of
going to trial.
✔✔Charges - ✔✔A formal accusation made before a court by a prosecuting authority,
usually in the form of a "charging document."
✔✔Civil Hearing - ✔✔A hearing involving a dispute between individuals and/or
organizations. The facts of the dispute could involve a contract, a lease, a physical
injury experienced by an individual, a divorce, or many other issues. Nonetheless, all
disputes or unresolved conflicts between individuals ultimately may be solved through
civil litigation. Generally, the result desired by the person filing the lawsuit is to be
compensated for damages. An alternative result is to have the court order another
person to begin or stop some activity.
✔✔Clerk - ✔✔The court officer who oversees administrative functions, especially
, managing the flow of cases through the court. With respect to the Court Interpreters Act,
this is the clerk of the district court or the bankruptcy court or a court unit executive
designated by the chief judge of the district court to implement the Act.
✔✔Closing Argument - ✔✔The part of the trial at which each party summarizes the
evidence and
attempts to convince the judge or jury that the evidence supports its side of the case.
✔✔Colloqualism - ✔✔A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used
in
ordinary or familiar conversation.
✔✔CJA 21 Form - ✔✔A court form for Authorization and Voucher for Expert and Other
Services for payment requests under the Criminal Justice Act.
✔✔Common Law - ✔✔The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in
the
United States, which relies on the articulation of legal principles in a
historical succession of judicial decisions. Common law principles can be changed by
legislation.
✔✔Community Defender - ✔✔Although similar to a federal public defender, technically
it is actually a nonprofit corporation that receives federal grant money and acts more
independently from the federal judiciary. Community defenders engage in traditional
legal representation along with social service support, policymaking and lobbying
efforts, and community education or other outreach efforts.
✔✔Complaint (Civil) - ✔✔The initial pleading that starts a civil action and states the
basis for the
court's jurisdiction, the basis for the plaintiff's claim, and the demand for relief. In some
states, this pleading is called a petition
✔✔Complaint (Criminal) - ✔✔A written statement of the essential facts of the offense
charged, made upon oath before a magistrate judge.
✔✔Conference Interpreter - ✔✔An interpreter who works in multilingual meetings and
renders a
message from one language into another, naturally and fluently. Unlike court
interpreters, conference interpreters adopt the delivery, tone and convictions of the
speaker and often make necessary adjustments to the speech.
✔✔Consecutive Interpretation - ✔✔The mode of interpretation used to interpret
testimony given by a limited English proficiency (LEP) individual on the witness stand,
or other statements for the record involving questions and answers, as well as for
situations in which dialogue with the LEP individual develops, such as interviews. The
