The english judicial system

I. Read and learn the following words and phrases:

at present – в настоящее время

judicial – судебный

system – система

basically – главным образом

pyramidal – пирамидальный

top – вершина

pyramid – пирамида

final appellate tribunal – конечный апелляционный суд

the House of Lords – палата лордов

beneath – ниже

the Court of Appeal – апелляционный суд

to hear – слушать (судебное дело)

to hear cases – слушать судебные дела

both ... and – как ..., так и

criminal appeal – апелляция по уголовному делу

civil appeal – апелляция по гражданскому делу

separate – отдельный

trial court – суд первой инстанции

case – судебное дело

the other – другой

side – сторона

the High Court – высокий суд

the County Court – суд графства

the Crown Court – уголовный суд присяжных

the Magistrates’ Court – магистратский суд, мировой суд

justice – судья

judge – судья

barrister – барристер (адвокат, имеющий право выступать в высших судах)

outside – за пределами

a few – несколько

large – крупный

city – город

magistrate – судья; мировой судья

layman – судья без юридического образования

to sit – заседать

occasionally – время от времени; изредка

to try cases – рассматривать дела

full-time – штатный

stipendiary magistrate – судья, получающий жалованье

legal – юридический

training – образование

II. Read the text: the judicial system of great britain

At present the English judicial system is basically pyramidal.

At the top of the pyramid is the final appellate tribunal, the House of Lords. Beneath it is the Court of Appeal. It hears both criminal and civil appeals.

Beneath these appellate courts are two separate systems of trial courts, one for criminal cases and the other for civil cases. On the civil side are the High Court and the County Court. On the criminal side are the Crown Court and the Magistrates’ Court.

The High Court justices and the County Court judges are all barristers. Outside of London and a few large cities the magistrates are laymen. They sit only occasionally to try cases. In the largest cities there are full-time stipendiary magistrates. They must have legal training.

III. Do the following exercises:

Exercise 1. Read and translate the following international words:

pyramidal, final, present, criminal, tribunal, separate, stipendiary, system, legal, appeal, training.

Exercise 2. Read and translate the following words and phrases into Russian:

pyramidal, the final appellate tribunal, basically, the High Court, the County Court, the Crown Court, at the top, the Magistrates’ Court, to try cases, full-time, the largest city, beneath, to hear cases, separate systems, layman.

Exercise 3. Make up correct word combinations. Translate them into Russian.

criminal	training
judicial	magistrate
appellate	system
stipendiary	court
legal	case

Exercise 4. Read and translate the following words and phrases into English: апелляция по гражданскому делу, апелляция по уголовному делу, две отдельные системы судов первой инстанции, барристер, судья без юридического образования, заседать изредка, рассматривать дела, юридическое образование.

Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps with words from the text. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. At the top of the pyramid is … , the House of Lords.

2. … hears both criminal and … .

3. Beneath the appellate courts are two separate systems of … .

4. On the civil side are … and … .

5. On the criminal side are … and … .

6. The High Court justices and the County Court judges are all … .

Exercise 6. Insert correct prepositions. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. … present the English judicial system is basically pyramidal.

2. … the top … the pyramid is the final appellate tribunal, the House ... Lords.

3. Outside … London and a few large cities the magistrates are laymen.

4. … the largest cities there are full-time stipendiary magistrates.

Exercise 7. Answer the following questions:

1. Is the English judicial system pyramidal in organization?

2. What court is at the top of the pyramid?

3. What can you tell me about the Court of Appeal?

4. What can you say about the trial courts?

5. Are the High Court justices and the County Court judges all barristers or solicitors?

6. Are the magistrates outside of London laymen or well-qualified professionals?

7. Who must have legal training in the largest cities?