Vocabulary tasks

A Match the following legal terms with their Russian equivalents.

1	judicial body	a	гражданское дело
2	claim	b	юридическое лицо
3	judicial branch	c	надзор
4	civil case	d	судебный орган
5	supervision	e	законодательная власть
6	legal entity	f	судебная власть
7	legislative branch	g	жалоба
8	complaint	h	иск

The Courts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation

There are 84 subjects of the Russian Federation. So, the territory of the Russian Federation is divided into 84 circuits.

Supreme Courts of the republics of the Russian Federation, other regional courts, city courts of cities of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, courts of autonomous districts and regions may act as courts of first instance when considering specific categories of cases particularly important for the society. In general case they are deemed to be courts of second instance (courts of appeal), i.e. they shall consider appeals and check the compliance with law and the validity of decisions and other court rulings not enacted yet.

The courts of the criminal jurisdiction try persons charged with more severe offences. The accused is tried by the judge of the court with two assessors or jury.

How cases are tried in courts

In all courts cases are tried in public. The participants in the trial (the prosecutor, the lawyers, the plaintiff, the judge, the defendant and the others) speak in the open court. The accused is guaranteed the right to defend. The press has the right to be present.

During the hearing of a case any citizen may enter the courtroom and be present during the trial from the beginning to the end. The hearing of cases in closed session is allowed only in exceptional cases. Closed sessions are only allowed if it is in the interests of both sides or for the necessity to keep state secrets. Trial without participation of both sides is not allowed. The judges are independent and they must obey the law.

Vocabulary

accused n 1 обвиняемый (в преступлении); 2 подсудимый

assessor n заседатель

claimant n истец; сторона, заявляющая требование

closed session n закрытое заседание

deem v полагать, считать

defendant n 1 ответчик; 2 обвиняемый; 3 подсудимый

discretion n усмотрение

initial level n начальный уровень

legitimate interest n законный интерес

obey the law v подчиняться закону

participant n участник

plaintiff n истец

prosecutor n обвинитель

summarize v суммировать; резюмировать

try v 1 судить; 2 рассматривать (дело)

with regard to касательно; в отношении

Reading tasks

A Answer these questions.

1 What courts of the subjects of the RF can you name?

2 What are their functions?

3 What cases are considered by the courts of the criminal jurisdiction?

4 What cases are considered by the Municipal Courts?

5 What court hears appeals from the Municipal Court?

6 How can you characterize the jurisdiction of the Specialized Military Courts?

7 What are the particularities in the jurisdiction of the Specialized Military Courts?

8 Where can the decisions of the Military Judge be appealed?

9 What are the elements of the Arbitrazh Court System of the Russian Federation?

10 What are the Arbitrazh courts competent to do?

11 What cases do the Arbitrazh courts of the subjects of the RF specialize in?

12 How are cases tried in courts?

13 Who are the participants in the trial?

14 When are closed sessions allowed?