The Court Structure

The Superior Courts

There are three Superior Courts in the Russian Federation:

1 The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation

2 The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

3 The High Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation.

The System of the Courts of General Jurisdiction

Other Courts of a limited and local nature are known as inferior courts. Other Federal Courts, which constitute the system of the courts of general jurisdiction, are:

• Courts of general jurisdiction of the subjects of the Russian Federation (the Supreme Courts of the Republics of the Russian Federation the Area, Oblasts, Cities of federal importance (Moscow and St. Petersburg), Autonomy Oblast and Autonomies Circuits Courts)

• The Municipal Courts

• The Specialized Military Courts.

The System of the Arbitrazh Courts

Other Federal Courts, besides the High Arbitrazh Court, which constitute the system of the Arbitrazh courts, are:

• The Federal Arbitrazh Circuit Courts

• The Arbitrazh courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

The Court System of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

The court system of the subjects of the Russian Federation like the federal court system consists of:

• Constitutional courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation

• Courts of general jurisdiction of the subjects of the Russian Federation

• Arbitrazh courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Vocabulary

administer v 1 управлять; 2 применять (нормы права); отправлять (правосудие);

administer justice syn to administer law отправлять правосудие

arbitration n русск. аrbitrazh арбитраж; третейский суд; арбитражное

разбирательство

authority n 1 власть; полномочие; 2 орган власти; judicial authority судебная

власть

capacity n 1 правоспосoбность; 2 компетенция

consent v давать согласие; соглашаться

consistent adj согласованный; is consistent with не противоречит

contractually adv основанный на договоре

court proceeding(s) n судопроизводство; судебное разбирательство

entity n субъект права; самостоятельное образование; legal entity 1 субъект

права; 2 юридическое лицо; syn juridical entity

establishment of courts n создание/учреждение судов

hierarchy of courts n иерархия судов

implement v выполнять, осуществлять

inferior court n нижестоящий суд

law n 1 закон; 2 право

abolish the law отменить закон

apply the law применить закон

contract law договорное право

family law семейное право

property law право собственности; вещное право

tort law деликтное право

legal action n судебный иск

legal relations n правоотношения

on behalf of от имени (кого-либо)

original jurisdiction n юрисдикция суда первой инстанции

reassessment n пересмотр

sentence n приговор

substance n суть; существо; to examine a case in substance рассматривать дело по существу

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1 What is the court?

2 What are two main reasons for variety of courts?

3 How do you understand the statement “the decisions of a higher court are binding upon lower courts”?

4 How is judicial authority implemented in Russia?

5 Which judicial branch deals with economic proceedings?

6 What cases do civil courts of general jurisdiction deal with?

7 What is the status of the Federal Constitutional Law On the Judicial System of the RF?

8 What elements does the court system of the Russian Federation consist of?

9 What is the function of a court of first instance?

10 What is the function of a court of second instance?

11 Where may parties to international agreements resolve their disputes?

12 What elements do the Superior Courts consist of?

13 What is the structure of the courts of general jurisdiction?

14 What are the elements of the system of the Arbitrazh courts?

15 What elements does the court system of the subjects of the RF consists of?

Comprehension check.

A Skim the text. Are these statements true (T) or false (F)?

1 There are courts of first instance and second instance.

2 A court of first instance examines appeals and protests against sentences and decisions of other courts.

3 Any court may sit as a court of first instance.

4 Higher courts hear and determine cases of major importance.

5 The decisions of a higher court are not binding upon lower courts.

6 The arbitration courts don’t consider economic disputes with foreign parties participation.

B Finish the following sentences using the facts from the text.

1 The court is a state body that…

2 The decisions of a higher court are…

3 Judicial authority in Russia is implemented through…

4 The civil courts of general jurisdiction deal with…

5 A court of original jurisdiction is one which…

6 Any court may sit as a …

7 Economic disputes between legal entities are resolved in…