It is useful to know

Memorize the following universally accepted translations of the terms describing the elements of the English court system.

the European Court of Justice – Суд Европейских Сообществ

the Supreme Court – Верховный суд

the Court of Арреаl –Апелляционньй суд

the High Court; the High Court of Justice – Высокий суд правосудия

the Crown Court – Суд короны

county court – суд графства

magistrates' court – суд магистратов, мировой суд

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council – Судебный комитет Тайного совета

the Queen's Bench Division – Отделение королевской скамьи

the Commercial Court – Коммерческий суд, суд по торговым делам

the Admiralty Court – Суд по морским делам, Морской суд

the Administrative Court – Административный суд

the Family Division – Отделение по семейным делам

the Chancery Division – Канцлерское отделение

the Divisional Court – Апелляционное присутствие

the Civil Division – Отделение по гражданским делам

the Criminal Division – Отделение по уголовным делам

Law Lords – Судебные лорды (члены апеляционного комитета палаты лордов)

the Lord Chief Justice – лорд-главный судья

Lord Justice of Appeal – судья апелляционного суда

Reading tasks

A Answer these questions.

1 What are the two suggested classifications of the English courts?

2 Why are both unsatisfactory?

3 Distinguish between courts of first instance and appellate courts.

4 What are the civil courts of first instance?

5 Which of the following courts are courts of first instance and which appellate courts: a Court of Appeal? b House of Lords? с county courts? d Crown Courts? e the High Court? f magistrates' courts?

6 Who will hear a case in the High Court?

7 Name the division of the High Courts which adjudicates on disputes over wills.

8 What is the term used for the party who appeals to a higher court?

9 What is the most important civil court of first instance?

10 From which courts will an appeal lie to the Court of Appeal?

11 To which court will an appeal lie from the magistrates' court?

12 What is the highest appellate court?

13 Give the titles of the judges who will hear an appeal in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.

14 What was the original purpose of the county courts?

15 What limitations are placed on the jurisdiction of tribunals?

16 Which judges have the most authority?

17 Distinguish between lay magistrates and stipendiary magistrates.

18 Do judges play an active role during the course of a trial?

19 Can a private individual bring a prosecution?

20 What is the position of the European Court of Justice in the English legal system?

For you to know

The word CASE has the following legal meanings in Russian:

1) судебное дело, судебный процесс

legal case – судебное дело

2) случай, прецедент

to follow the case –следовать прецеденту

3) судебная практика

under the cases – в соответствии с судебной практикой

4) судебный иск

to bring a case – возбудить иск

The Russian expression СУДЕБНЫЙ ПРОЦЕСС has the following equivalents in English:

1) litigation – судебный процесс, спор, тяжба

civil litigation – судебный процесс по гражданскому делу

local litigation – тяжба в местном суде

litigation expenses – судебные издержки

issue in the litigation – предмет судебного спора

2) lawsuit – судебный процесс, судебное дело, иск, тяжба, правовой спор, судебный спор, судебное разбирательство

to be cast in lawsuit – проиграть судебный процесс

party to a lawsuit – сторона по делу

to file a lawsuit – подать иск

3) suit – судебный процесс, иск, преследование по суду, су­дебное дело, судебная тяжба, судопроизводство

to win / to lose a suit – выиграть / проиграть судебный процесс

to mount a suit – предъявить иск

to press a suit – оказывать давление на ход судебного процесса

to bring a suit – возбудить дело, тяжбу

4) trial – судебный процесс, судебное разбирательство, слушание дела

open (-court) trial – открытый судебный процесс

to conduct / hold a trial – вести судебный процесс

staged trial – инсценированный судебный процесс

trial by jury – рассмотрение дела с участием присяжных

to bring to trial / to put (up)on trial / to place on trial – предать суду

to face trial – предстать перед судом

to stand trial – отвечать перед судом

civil trial – гражданское судопроизводство

criminal trial – уголовное судопроизводство

preliminary trial – предварительное слушание дела

case for trial/ trial case – дело, подлежащее судебному рассмот­рению

case on trial – дело на стадии судебного рассмотрения

delay in trial – задержка судебного разбирательства, отсрочка судебного

разбирательства

trial docket / trial list – список дел к слушанию

investigation at the trial – судебное следствие

party to a trial – сторона в процессе; участник процесса

5) cause – судебный процесс, судебное дело, тяжба

legal cause – судебное дело, законное основание

major / minor cause – дело о тяжком / малозначительном право­нарушении

costs in the cause – судебные издержки, издержки в процессе

cause list – список дел к слушанию

side in a cause – сторона по делу

6) controversy – гражданский судебный процесс, правовой спор,

судебный спор

legal controversy – правовой спор; судебный спор

to decide a controversy – решить спор

party in controversy – сторона в судебном споре

7) process – судебный процесс, процедура, порядок, произ­водство дел, судопроизводство, процессуальные нормы

arrest process — приказ суда об аресте

8) proceeding(s) – судебный процесс, рассмотрение дела в суде, судебное разбирательство, судебная процедура, произ­водство по делу, судопроизводство

to take criminal proceeding(s) – возбудить уголовное преследо­вание

civil proceeding(s) – гражданское производство

criminal proceeding(s) – уголовное судопроизводство

forfeiture proceeding(s), – процедура конфискации

Language focus

A Notice the construction of the different types of phrase with bind, binding and bound:

to be bound TO	+ infinitive
to be bound BY	+ noun
to be binding ON	+ noun
to bind	+ noun

Lower courts are bound to follow House of Lords decisions

Lower courts are bound by House of Lords decisions

House of Lords decisions are binding on lower courts

House of Lords decisions bind lower courts

Complete the following sentences correctly using a phrase with bind, bound, or binding. Translate them into Russian.

1. Divisional Courts _____ by Court of Appeal decisions on questions of law.

2. In general the Court of Appeal _____ follow its own decisions.

3. A Court of Appeal decision given per incuriam* _____ on the Court of Appeal in a later case.

4. Court of Appeal decisions _____ the House of Lords.

5. The Court of Appeal _____ decide which of two conflicting decisions of its own it will follow.

6. The Court of Appeal _____ (not) follow a decision of its own if given per incuriam.

7. A divisional court _____ by its own previous decisions.

8. Divisional Court decisions _____ judges of first instance.

9. A decision of an overseas court _____ (not) on an English court.

* per incuriam лат. в результате неосторожности

B Complete the sentences using should, ought to, must, or may.

1 An English court _____ to follow the unanimous judgtment of the higher Scottish courts.

2 The laws of England and Scotland _____ be uniform

3 _____ the laws of England and Scotland be uniform?

4 It is desirable that interpretations _____ be avoided.

5 The decisions of the Court of Appeal upon questions of law _____ be followed by Divisional Courts and courts of first instance.

6 A decision of the House of Lords, when founded on principle and not on authority, _____ be regarded as applicable to both countries.

7 A decision of an overseas court in a common law country is not of course binding on an English court, but _____ be useful as a guide to the court to which it is cited.

8 English courts _____ be in keeping with United States courts on carriage by sea and carriage by air.

9 It is desirable that the great common law jurisdictions _____ not differ lightly, particularly on so universal a matter as commercial law.