State Court Interpreter Written Practice Test A Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering legal terminology, court procedures, general vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions tested in State Court Interpreter Written Practice Test A.

Res judicata

A legal rule or principle establishing that a matter has been conclusively settled and the case may not be appealed.

Discovery

A pre-trial evidentiary exchange between opposing parties in a legal proceeding.

Directed verdict

A ruling that occurs when the Court orders the jury to find a defendant not guilty.

Two-time loser

A colloquial legal term describing a former inmate sentenced to serve time.

Probable cause

A well-founded suspicion within reason to believe a criminal act was committed.

Concurrent sentences

Multiple jail terms that are completed simultaneously rather than one after the other.

Remanded (case)

The status of a case when it is sent back to the lower court.

Remanded (defendant)

An action ordered by the Court whereby the defendant is taken into custody forthwith.

Information

A formal criminal charge or charging document filed by the prosecution.

Complaint

A formal law enforcement accusation based on probable cause.

Grand jury

An investigative and accusatorial body of citizens in the community convened to examine criminal charges.

Tort

A civil wrong or non-contractual harm from which civil liability issues.

Compulsory process

A judicial process used to compel an individual to appear or provide evidence, such as a subpoena.

Pre-sentence investigation report

A document prepared for the benefit of the judicial officer to assist in sentence imposition.

Bench trial

A court proceeding presided over and decided by one judge rather than a jury.

Arraignment

A proceeding in criminal court conducted to advise a defendant of the charges brought against him or her.

Hung jury

A deadlocked jury that occurs when one or more jurors hold a differing opinion, preventing a unanimous decision.

Speedy trial

A trial begun promptly and conducted expeditiously by the prosecution.

Status conference

A court-ordered meeting held to decide procedural matters, such as the trial date.

Stipulation

An agreement made by opposing attorneys regulating any matter incidental to the court proceedings.

Cross-examination

The trial phase in which opposing counsel questions the other party's witnesses, such as defense counsel questioning prosecutorial witnesses.

Continuance

An adjournment or postponement of a court proceeding to another date.

Case-in-chief

The primary presentation of evidence tendered by a party, such as the prosecutor, at trial.

Motion for diversion

A request for a hearing based on a probation department report to evaluate whether a defendant should be sent to rehabilitation instead of trial.

Probation

A suspended sentence granted by the court in lieu of jail time for a defendant found guilty of a crime.

Ex parte hearing

An emergency hearing conducted before one party in the absence of the other party, usually held for deciding matters of an urgent nature.

Turn State evidence

The action of a defendant giving testimony or evidence on behalf of the prosecution against other defendants.

Specious

Deceptive; appearing superficially true or attractive but actually false.

Verisimilitude

The quality or appearance of being true or factual; factuality.

Enervate

To debilitate, weaken, or drain the physical or mental vigor of.

Punctilious

Showing great attention to detail, correct behavior, or conscientiousness.

Abrogate

To formally repeal, annul, or abolish a law, agreement, or formal policy.

Ace in the hole

An idiomatic expression denoting a hidden asset, critical advantage, or the key to winning a case.

Beating a dead horse

An idiomatic expression meaning to waste time debating or dwelling on an issue that has already been settled.

Call on the carpet

An idiomatic expression meaning to summon someone to face reprimand or an insinuation of culpability.