Court Interpreter Written Exam:
Court-Related Terms and Usage
with Complete Solutions
Accuracy - ANSWER-The condition or quality of being true, correct, or exact;
freedom from
error or defect; precision or exactness; correctness
Administrative Office of the U.S Courts - ANSWER-AOUSC or AO; the central
support entity for the Judicial Branch. It
provides a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management,
program, and information technology services to the federal courts. The AO
provides support and staff counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United
States and its committees, and implements and executes Judicial Conference
policies, as well as applicable federal statutes and
regulations.
,admissible - ANSWER-A term used to describe evidence that may be
considered by a jury or
judge in civil and criminal cases.
Acquittal - ANSWER-A finding that the defendant is not guilty of the charges
brought by the
government. This finding may be reached by the trial judge in a case
tried before a judge alone or by the jury in a case tried before a jury.
Admit/Deny Hearing - ANSWER-A term used to describe evidence that may
be considered by a jury or
judge in civil and criminal cases.
adversary system - ANSWER-A term often applied to the Anglo-American
system for resolving
criminal cases because that system involves pitting two adversaries, the
government and the defendant, against each other in court. The
underlying theory of the adversary system is that the clash between two
equally matched adversaries is likely to yield the truth in a given case, that
is, what actually happened.
,affidavit - ANSWER-A sworn written statement. Complaints, search warrants,
and arrest
warrants must be supported by affidavits establishing probable cause.
allocution - ANSWER-An oral pleading or argument made to the court at
sentencing by counsel for the defendant, the defendant, and the prosecutor.
During allocution, the speaker attempts to persuade the judge that a
particular sentence should or should not be imposed.
Appeal - ANSWER-A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one
or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was
correct. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." The
party who appeals is called the "appellant;" and the other party is the
"appellee." A defendant who has been found guilty after a trial has the right
to appeal the conviction to the appropriate U.S. court of appeals and seek a
new trial or other relief. Similarly, when authorized by statute, a party
adversely affected by a sentence imposed by the court or by a pretrial ruling
of the court may appeal that sentence or ruling to the court of appeals and
seek a different result.
, Appointed Counsel - ANSWER-An attorney appointed by the court to
represent a person, usually an
indigent person.
Arraignment - ANSWER-When the defendant is brought before the court,
informed of the charges, and called upon to enter a plea to the charges. The
defendant is given a copy of the indictment or information before being
called upon to enter a plea. This is the initial appearance of a criminal
defendant (unless the matter has been continued from an earlier time).
Arrest - ANSWER-Occurs when, either through show of force or actual
physical seizure, a law enforcement officer detains a person or otherwise
leads that person to reasonably believe that he or she is not free to leave.
Bench Trial - ANSWER-A trial before a judge without a jury. The judge decides
questions of fact as well as questions of law.
Booking - ANSWER-The criminal justice system's process for creation of an
administrative
record of those arrested.
Court-Related Terms and Usage
with Complete Solutions
Accuracy - ANSWER-The condition or quality of being true, correct, or exact;
freedom from
error or defect; precision or exactness; correctness
Administrative Office of the U.S Courts - ANSWER-AOUSC or AO; the central
support entity for the Judicial Branch. It
provides a wide range of administrative, legal, financial, management,
program, and information technology services to the federal courts. The AO
provides support and staff counsel to the Judicial Conference of the United
States and its committees, and implements and executes Judicial Conference
policies, as well as applicable federal statutes and
regulations.
,admissible - ANSWER-A term used to describe evidence that may be
considered by a jury or
judge in civil and criminal cases.
Acquittal - ANSWER-A finding that the defendant is not guilty of the charges
brought by the
government. This finding may be reached by the trial judge in a case
tried before a judge alone or by the jury in a case tried before a jury.
Admit/Deny Hearing - ANSWER-A term used to describe evidence that may
be considered by a jury or
judge in civil and criminal cases.
adversary system - ANSWER-A term often applied to the Anglo-American
system for resolving
criminal cases because that system involves pitting two adversaries, the
government and the defendant, against each other in court. The
underlying theory of the adversary system is that the clash between two
equally matched adversaries is likely to yield the truth in a given case, that
is, what actually happened.
,affidavit - ANSWER-A sworn written statement. Complaints, search warrants,
and arrest
warrants must be supported by affidavits establishing probable cause.
allocution - ANSWER-An oral pleading or argument made to the court at
sentencing by counsel for the defendant, the defendant, and the prosecutor.
During allocution, the speaker attempts to persuade the judge that a
particular sentence should or should not be imposed.
Appeal - ANSWER-A request made after a trial by a party that has lost on one
or more issues that a higher court review the decision to determine if it was
correct. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." The
party who appeals is called the "appellant;" and the other party is the
"appellee." A defendant who has been found guilty after a trial has the right
to appeal the conviction to the appropriate U.S. court of appeals and seek a
new trial or other relief. Similarly, when authorized by statute, a party
adversely affected by a sentence imposed by the court or by a pretrial ruling
of the court may appeal that sentence or ruling to the court of appeals and
seek a different result.
, Appointed Counsel - ANSWER-An attorney appointed by the court to
represent a person, usually an
indigent person.
Arraignment - ANSWER-When the defendant is brought before the court,
informed of the charges, and called upon to enter a plea to the charges. The
defendant is given a copy of the indictment or information before being
called upon to enter a plea. This is the initial appearance of a criminal
defendant (unless the matter has been continued from an earlier time).
Arrest - ANSWER-Occurs when, either through show of force or actual
physical seizure, a law enforcement officer detains a person or otherwise
leads that person to reasonably believe that he or she is not free to leave.
Bench Trial - ANSWER-A trial before a judge without a jury. The judge decides
questions of fact as well as questions of law.
Booking - ANSWER-The criminal justice system's process for creation of an
administrative
record of those arrested.
