FCICE Federal Court Interpreter Certification Examination

What is the BEST Spanish equivalent for the legal term 'arraignment' in a U.S. federal court context?

• Aaudiencia preliminar
• Blectura de cargos (instrucción de cargos)
• Cjuicio oral
• Dsentencia condenatoria

In U.S. federal criminal procedure, what is an 'indictment'?

• AA formal accusation issued by a grand jury
• BA plea entered by the defendant
• CA judge's final ruling
• DA defense motion to dismiss

What does 'voir dire' refer to in a U.S. trial?

• AClosing arguments by counsel
• BThe process of questioning prospective jurors or a witness's qualifications
• CSentencing phase of a trial
• DReading of the verdict

What is a 'motion in limine'?

• AA motion for a new trial after verdict
• BA motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction
• CA pretrial motion to exclude certain evidence from being presented to the jury
• DA motion for summary judgment

What is a 'writ of habeas corpus'?

• AAn order compelling a witness to testify
• BA court order directing that a person in custody be brought before the court to determine…
• CA warrant for search and seizure
• DAn appellate court's final judgment

In criminal law, what is 'mens rea'?

• AThe physical act constituting the crime
• BThe guilty mind or mental state required for criminal liability
• CThe chain of custody of evidence
• DThe defendant's prior criminal record

What does 'exculpatory evidence' mean?

• AEvidence that tends to prove guilt
• BEvidence that tends to clear or excuse the defendant from guilt
• CEvidence about a witness's prior bad acts
• DEvidence seized without a warrant

'Fruit of the poisonous tree' is a doctrine that...

• APermits hearsay under a public records exception
• BExcludes evidence derived from an initial illegal search or seizure
• CAllows impeachment of a witness with a prior conviction
• DGoverns the admissibility of expert testimony

A 'subpoena duces tecum' compels a person to...

• AAppear in court only to testify orally
• BProduce specified documents or tangible evidence
• CSubmit to a deposition in a civil case
• DSurrender to custody

In a federal criminal case, what is a 'plea bargain'?

• AA judge's instruction to the jury
• BA negotiated agreement where the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for concessions
• CA post-verdict motion for sentencing reduction
• DAn appeal filed by the prosecution

What is a 'deposition' in civil procedure?

• AAn oral statement made in open court during trial
• BThe sworn, out-of-court testimony of a witness taken before trial
• CA written opinion from an appellate court
• DAn order of dismissal with prejudice

Which of the following BEST describes 'Giglio material'?

• APhysical evidence from a crime scene
• BImpeachment information about government witnesses that must be disclosed to the defense
• CEvidence obtained via an anticipatory search warrant
• DGrand jury transcripts unavailable to the defense

'Miranda rights' are read to a suspect who is...

• AUnder arrest and about to be booked, at any time
• BIn custody and about to be subjected to interrogation
• CTestifying at trial
• DBeing served with a civil summons

The 'exclusionary rule' in U.S. criminal procedure...

• ABars a defendant from testifying on their own behalf
• BProhibits the use of evidence obtained in violation of the Constitution
• CExcludes expert witnesses from the courtroom
• DPrevents the government from appealing an acquittal

What is 'discovery' in U.S. federal civil litigation?

• AThe finding of new evidence after the verdict
• BThe pretrial process by which parties exchange information about the case
• CA ruling by the trial judge on a legal question
• DThe formal service of process on a defendant

What does 'acusación formal' refer to in the U.S. federal criminal context?

• AA citation (citación)
• BA formal indictment returned by a grand jury
• CA summary judgment
• DA preliminary hearing

In Spanish, 'declaración jurada' BEST translates to which English legal term?

• AAffidavit / sworn statement
• BIndictment
• CComplaint
• DWarrant

What does 'auto de hábeas corpus' refer to?

• AAn arrest warrant
• BA writ of habeas corpus
• CA grand jury subpoena
• DA judgment of conviction

In Spanish legal usage, the phrase 'la fiscalía' refers to...

• AThe court clerk's office
• BThe prosecution (prosecutor's office)
• CThe defense bar
• DThe jury pool

What is the meaning of 'prueba pericial'?

• AHearsay evidence
• BCharacter evidence
• CExpert witness testimony / expert evidence
• DCircumstantial evidence

Which Spanish term BEST renders the English word 'bail' (monetary release condition)?

• Afianza
• Bmulta
• Cindemnización
• Dcosta judicial

'Sentencia condenatoria' means...

• AAn acquittal
• BA conviction / guilty verdict with sentence
• CA mistrial
• DA dismissal

What does 'allanamiento' typically mean in Spanish criminal procedure?

• AArrest
• BSearch (of premises), often pursuant to a warrant
• CAcquittal
• DPlea of not guilty

The Spanish phrase 'citación' most commonly translates to...

• ASubpoena or summons
• BSearch warrant
• CArrest warrant
• DAppellate brief

In Spanish, 'recusar' in a courtroom context means to...

• AFile a motion to dismiss
• BChallenge or strike (a juror or judge) for cause or peremptorily
• CObject to a question
• DAppeal a ruling

What does 'culpabilidad' mean?

• AGuilt / culpability
• BInnocence
• CSentence
• DPlea

'Pruebas exculpatorias' is the Spanish for which English concept?

• AEvidence of prior bad acts
• BEvidence tending to exonerate the defendant
• CHearsay evidence
• DDemonstrative evidence

The Spanish term 'procesamiento' in a U.S. federal criminal context best corresponds to...

• ASentencing
• BIndictment / formal charging
• CClosing argument
• DJury deliberation

In legal Spanish, 'perjurio' means...

• AHearsay
• BPerjury (lying under oath)
• CAccessory after the fact
• DEntrapment

What is 'prisión preventiva' in Spanish legal usage?

• ASuspended sentence
• BPretrial detention
• CCommunity service
• DProbation

In which interpretation mode does the interpreter render the source-language message into the target language almost in real time, typically with only a few seconds' lag?

• AConsecutive interpretation
• BSight translation
• CSimultaneous interpretation
• DSummary interpretation

Which interpretation mode is BEST suited for witness testimony on direct and cross-examination in U.S. federal court?

• ASimultaneous
• BConsecutive
• CSight translation
• DSummary

'Sight translation' refers to...

• AInterpreting from memory without notes
• BReading a written text in the source language and rendering it orally in the target langu…
• CTranslating a recorded audio file in writing
• DSummarizing a proceeding for the record

The whispered simultaneous interpreting technique, often used at counsel table in federal court, is also known as...

• ARelay
• BChuchotage
• CLiaison
• DRetour