Legal and Judicial Terminology, Court Procedures, and Criminal/Civil Law Basics
Domain 4: Legal and Judicial Terminology, Court Procedures, and Criminal/Civil Law Basics
This domain tests the vocabulary and procedural sequence a reporter must recognize instantly. You do not need to practice law, but you must hear “arraignment,” “voir dire,” “sua sponte,” or “res judicata” and transcribe them correctly.
Core concepts
- Civil cases involve plaintiffs and defendants, pleadings, discovery, motions, trial, and judgment; criminal cases involve the State, defendants, arraignment, bail, preliminary hearing or grand jury, trial, and sentencing.
- Nevada's court structure includes the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, district courts, justice courts, and municipal courts.
- Burden of proof differs: preponderance of the evidence in most civil cases; beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases.
- Objections must be ruled on; preserve the ruling and the offer of proof.
- Common terms: pro se, in camera, sidebar, direct examination, cross-examination, redirect, exhibit, verdict, acquittal, probation, parole.
Worked example
Counsel says, “Objection, hearsay, Your Honor.” The witness's answer is not automatically stricken. The reporter records the objection, the court's ruling (“Sustained”), and any curative instruction. If the judge says “strike that answer,” the transcript should reflect the strike and, where appropriate, a parenthetical noting the answer was stricken. Do not delete the answer from the historical record unless the court orders it.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing an indictment with an information; treating “acquittal” as “dismissal”; mixing “probation” and “parole”; writing “plaintiff” in a criminal case; and missing Latin terms that are routinely spoken. Accuracy here protects appellate review.