4. Make up word-combinations; mind the prepositions:

to practice	to	the bar
to be called	in	courts
the father	from	common law
to derive	of	works
source	with	strong approval
to mention	-	the principle
to express		British law

4. Answer the following questions:

1. Who is said to be the “father” of British law? 2. What are the titles of William Blackstone’s works? 3. When and where was Blackstone born? 4. Where did Blackstone receive his education? 5.When was Blackstone appointed Principal of New Inn Hall? 6. What is the most famous work of William Blackstone? 7. Are Blackstone’s Commentaries popular in the USA? 8. When are his Commentaries quoted in the USA? 9. Was it Blackstone who first expressed the principle "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer"?

A – 2

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

Hipperholme [hphum], Robert Peel [rbt pi:l], Bury [br], Lancashire [lk], Christ Church [krast ], Willington [wltn], Earl Grey [l gre], Harrow School [hru sku:l].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

passion, reform, opposition, administration, attack.

3. Analyse the structure of the following words:

under-secretary, memorable, far-ranging, parliamentary, intolerable, to oversee, underground, landowner.

4. Skim the text and point out the headlines which summarize certain paragraphs of the text; mind that there are two extra headlines:

1. The basics of reforms in medicine. 2. Adoption of Conservatism but being in minority. 3. The process of education and first steps in career. 4. The period of successful presidency. 5. Tragic end of life. 6. Second Conservative administration and new progressive reforms. 7. Years of opposition to Earl Grey.

ROBERT PEEL

Robert Peel was born on 5 February 1788 in Bury, Lancashire. His father was a wealthy cotton mill owner. Peel was educated first at Hipperholme Grammar School, then at Harrow School and finally Christ Church, Oxford, where he took a double first¹ in classics and mathematics. He is also believed to have briefly attended Bury Grammar School. Peel entered parliament as a Tory (conservative party) in 1809. His early political career included appointments as under-secretary for war and colonies (1809) and chief secretary for Ireland (1812). In 1822 he became Home Secretary, and introduced far-ranging criminal law and prison reform as well as creating of the Metropolitan Police - the terms 'bobbies' and 'peelers'² come from his name. His most memorable principle was, "the police are the public, and the public are the police."

It happened so that the Wellington government in which Peel had been Home Secretary fell in 1830. Peel was in opposition to a new administration, headed by Earl Grey. Peel argued passionately against Grey's proposals for parliamentary reform. Nonetheless, in 1832 the Reform Act was passed.

The Whig Government of Earl Grey was dismissed in 1834 by King William IV, who appointed Peel as Prime Minister. But Peel's Tories remained a conservative minority in the House of Commons. Peel found this situation intolerable and resigned in 1835.

In 1841, Peel formed a Conservative administration again. It was during this government that he oversaw the introduction of significant legislation such as the Mines Act of 1842, which forbade the employment of women and children underground and the Factory Act of 1844, which limited working hours for children and women in factories. In 1845, Peel faced the defining challenge of his career, when he attempted to repeal the Corn Laws which had been introduced to protect British agriculture. This was done to free up more food for Ireland, where a potato famine was raging. Landowners resisted in the House of Commons what they perceived as an attack on them. Peel's Conservative Party would not support him, and the debate lasted for months. Eventually, in June 1846, with support from the Whigs and the Radicals, the Corn Laws were repealed. On the same day Peel was defeated on another bill, and resigned. He never held office again.

Four years later, Peel was badly injured after falling from his horse and died on 2 July 1850 in London.

Notes:

¹double first – изучение двух предметов в качестве основной специальности

²bobby, peeler – разг. полисмен

5. Speak about the posts which Robert Peel held and reforms which he introduced.

A – 3

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

Denning [den], Charles [a:lz], Southampton [sauhmptn], Magdalen [m:dln], Winchester [wnst], Whitchurch [w].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

precedent, primary, mathematics, baron, statute, contribution.

3. Analyse the structure of the following words:

law-making, to reconsider, honorary, peerage, freedom, celebration.

4. Scan the text and say what fact is considered to be the turning point in the career of Tom Denning:

TOM DENNING

Lord Denning was perhaps the greatest law-making judge of the 20th century. He is one of the most quoted Court of Appeal judges. He was not afraid to reconsider or depart from an established precedent. Creatively using his approach he shaped appellate law whilst following his primary interest: justice.

Tom Denning was born in January 1899. His father Charles owned a shop in the Hampshire town of Whitchurch. His mother had been a school teacher. After school and after a year at the University of Oxford, he served in the First World War. He resumed his education at Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating with a First Class degree in mathematics, after which he taught mathematics at Winchester College, before returning to study law at Magdalen, again achieving a First Class degree. He was later made an honorary fellow by the college. He trained at Lincoln’s Inn, and was later a bencher of the Inn.

Denning was called to the English bar in 1923, took silk¹ in 1938 and was appointed a High Court judge in 1944. Only four years later, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal, as well as a Privy Councillor², and in 1957 he became a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary with a life peerage as Baron Denning of Whitchurch in the County of Southampton. He also served as Master of the Rolls from 1962 to 1982 (presided over the Civil Division), later receiving the Order of Merit³ in 1997 in recognition of his distinguished career.

The year 1962 was the turning point in the career of Lord Denning. That was the year he stepped down from the House of Lords to a much more influential post - Master of the Rolls⁴. During his 20 years as Master of the Rolls, he could choose his own cases and the judges who were to sit with him. So on most issues, he effectively had the last word.

Not many cases went on to the House of Lords, Britain's highest court of law. But in seeking justice Lord Denning thought he had the right to change any rule of law that stood in his way. There was no need to wait for legislation. "Parliament does it too late," he argued. "It may take years and years before a statute can be passed to amend a bad law… The judge ... should make the law correspond with the justice that the case requires." Tom Denning stood firm for freedom under the law. His whole life was devoted to justice.

Denning died a few months after his 100th birthday. At the celebrations of his birthday which he was unable to attend Law Society President Michael Matthews said: "He was a towering figure in the law who made an enormous contribution to the law of this century, probably the major contribution."

Notes:

¹to take silk – стать королевским адвокатом

²privy councillor - член тайного совета

³Order of Merit – Орден за заслуги

⁴Master of the Rolls - "хозяин свитков": глава государственного архива, член Высокого суда правосудия, председатель Апелляционного суда

5. Scan the text once again and state the facts of Lord Denning’s biography which took place in:

1899, 1923, 1938, 1944, 1957, 1962-1982, 1997, 1999.

B - 1

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

George With [dd w], Elizabeth City County [lzb st kaunt], Virginia [vdn], Stephen Dewey [sti:vn dju:], Williamsburg [wljmsbg], Thomas Jefferson [tms defsn], Henry Clay [henr kle], James Monroe [demz mnru], John Marshall [dn ma:l].

2. Read and translate the text; explain your variants of translation of sentences marked with an asterisk:

GEORGE WYTHE

George Wythe (1726 - 1806), was a lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. He was the first professor of law in America, earning him the title of "The Father of American Jurisprudence." Wythe served as a representative of Virginia and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention — though he left the Convention early and did not sign the final version of the Constitution.

Wythe was born in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, and educated at home by his mother. His father died when he was three. Wythe attended the College of William and Mary but dropped out, unable to afford the fees. He read law at the office of Stephen Dewey and was admitted to the bar in 1746. He was Clerk of the committee on Privileges and Elections of the House of Burgesses in 1746, and was appointed Attorney General by the Royal Governor of Virginia in 1773.

Wythe served as mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia from 1768 to 1769. In 1779 he was appointed to the newly created Chair of Law at William and Mary, becoming the first law professor in the United States. Wythe's pupils at William and Mary included Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, James Monroe, and John Marshall.

Wythe was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775. He voted in favor of the resolution for independence and signed the Declaration of Independence. He also helped form the new government of Virginia and later he was elected Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1777. In 1789 he became Judge of the Chancery Court of Virginia and later designed the seal of Virginia.

Wythe, in his will, left his extraordinary book collection to Thomas Jefferson who described his mentor and friend by stating: "He was my ancient master, my earliest and best friend, and to him I am indebted for first impressions which have been the most salutary on the course of my life." ٭

3. Give the English for:

a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, to sign the final version of the Constitution, to read law, to be admitted to the bar, to be appointed to the Chair of Law, political philosophy, to vote in favour of the resolution for independence, extraordinary book collection.

4. Give the Russian for:

выдающийся преподаватель права, делегат от Вирджинии, быть отчисленным из-за отсутствия возможности оплатить обучение, занимать пост мэра, Континентальный конгресс (законодательный орган будущих США во время и после Войны за независимость), подписать Декларацию независимости, стать судьёй Канцлерского суда Вирджинии, наставник и друг.

4. Say if the sentences are true or false:

1. George Wythe was a lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and a singer. 2. Wythe had an opportunity to sign the final version of the Constitutional Convention. 3. Wythe was educated by his father. 4. Wythe worked in the House of Burgesses up to the very end. 5. Once Wythe held the post of a mayor. 6. John Kennedy was the pupil of George Wythe. 7. The seal of Virginia was designed by George Wythe. 8. According to Wythe’s will everything should be inherited by the government.

B – 2

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

Earl Rogers [l rds], Buffalo [bflu], Los Angeles [lsndli:z], California [klfn], William Alford [wljm lfd], Stanley Gardener [stnl ga:dn], Perry Mason [per mesn].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

autopsy, physician, minister, medical, expert, technical, expertise.

3. Translate the following family words:

sane – sanity – insanity, to care – care – careless – carelessness, to hope – hope – hopeful – hopeless, to defend – defense – defendant, self-defense, down – downward, up – upward.

4. Remember the following words:

surgeon – 1) хирург; 2) военный врач

1. The surgeon who carried out the operation said it had been a success. 2. You must consult your surgeon.

to refute – опровергать

1. The lawyer used new evidence to refute the charges.

coroner – следователь, ведущий дела о насильственной или скоропостижной смерти

1.The coroner arrived at the scene of crime.

testimony – 1) показания свидетеля, 2) доказательство

1. I don’t think their testimony is reliable. 2. His testimony helped win the case.

bullet – пуля

1. Soldiers started firing bullets above the crowd.

5. Skim the text and correct its plan:

1. Field of specialization.

2. The most famous case.

3. Official posts.

4. Earl Rogers and literature.

4. Add some details to the plan.

EARL ROGERS

Earl Rogers was born in 1869 near Buffalo, New York and died on February 23, 1922 Los Angeles, California. He was a successful American trial lawyer. He was the son of a Methodist minister who went to California when Earl was still a small boy.

He was admitted to the bar in 1897. Rogers appeared for the defense in 77 murder trials and lost only three. He astonished medical experts on the witness stand with his technical questions. His expertise was so complete that he became a professor of medical jurisprudence and insanity in the College of Physicians and Surgeons as well as a professor at the University of Southern California Law School. In "The Case of the Grinning Skull"¹, Rogers introduced the skull of a victim to prove that what appeared to be a fracture resulting from a violent blow was, in fact, the result of carelessness by the autopsy surgeon. His client walked free.

One of the most famous cases of Earl Rogers is considered to be the case of William Alford. In 1899 William Alford shot Jay E. Hunter, one of the town’s leading attorneys. Called upon to defend Alford, the young lawyer faced a seemingly hopeless case: Alford had been armed with a pistol, Hunter - only with a cane², and Alford’s insistence that he had fired in self-defense after the attorney had struck him with a heavy stick was refuted by the coroner’s testimony that the bullet had driven downward through Hunter’s body. The trial was going against Alford when Rogers did something unusual: he called for Hunter’s intestines³ to be brought into the court. The prosecution protested, but still the intestines were brought. After that Rogers got an expert witness to confirm that in fact the bullet had traveled upward: to have followed the course it did, Hunter would have had to be bending over—undoubtedly plying his cane just as Alford had claimed. Alford went free and Earl Rogers found himself famous.

Ten years after Rogers’ death, impressed with accounts of his cases, attorney and writer Earl Stanley Gardener reincarnated Rogers as the character Perry Mason.

Notes:

¹"The Case of the Grinning Skull" – «Дело об ухмыляющемся черепе»

²cane - трость

³intestines - кишечник

4. Speak about Earl Rogers according to the plan.

B – 3

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

Johnnie Cochran [dn kkrn], Simpson [smpsn], Geronimo Pratt [dernmu prt], Julius Butler [du:ls btl], Robert Shapiro [rbt epru].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

phrase, race, group, neutralization, informant.

3. Analyse the structure of the following words:

longtime, co-council, successful, argument, informant, involvement.

6. Remember the following words:

murder – тяжкое убийство (с заранее обдуманным злым умыслом)

1. He was charged with the attempted murder. 2. There were three murders in the town last month.

to persuade – убеждать

1. He persuaded me not to go there.

glove (pl. gloves) – перчатка

1. I need a new pair of gloves.

reasonable doubt – разумное сомнение

1. The prosecution has to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

robbery – разбой, грабеж

1. Two bank robberies were committed yesterday. 2. He was sentenced by the court for armed robbery.

5. Scan the text and say what famous people Johnnie Cochran had successfully defended:

JOHNNIE COCHRAN

On Thursday, March 31, 2005 there was an article in Moscow “Times” with the heading “Attorney Cochran Dies at 67”. He was known all over the world for his successful defense of football star O.J. Simpson on murder charges, the "trial of the century". It resulted in a controversial acquittal in 1955. During closing arguments in the Simpson trial, Cochran pronounced the now famous phrase, "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." He used the phrase as a way to try to persuade the jury that O.J. Simpson could not have murdered his former wife, because the murderer's gloves did not fit him. According to a number of legal analyzers, the phrase was central to the trial.

Despite the Simpson victory, Johnnie Cochran was criticized for bringing up the issue of race. Cochran told the mainly black Simpson jury that police officers were trying to frame O.J. Simpson because of his race. Robert Shapiro, co-counsel on the Simpson defense team, accused Cochran of dealing the "race card". In response, Cochran replied that it was not a case about race, but a case about reasonable doubt.

The most glorious moment as a lawyer, in Cochran's opinion, was when he won the freedom of Geronimo Pratt, a former leader of BPP (the Black Panther Party), who was convicted in a Los Angeles state court in 1972 of shooting and killing a woman and wounding her husband during a robbery in Santa Monica in 1968. He has always denied involvement in the crime and maintained that he was hundreds of miles away at a BPP meeting in Oakland at the time of the murder. In 1975, US Senate hearings revealed that the BPP was a primary target of an FBI counter-intelligence program aimed at disrupting and neutralizing certain US political groups. Information obtained by Pratt’s lawyers from FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) files after 1979 revealed that Pratt was personally targeted for "neutralization" by FBI at the time of his arrest. Information from FBI files also indicated that Julius Butler, the chief prosecution witness who testified that Pratt had confessed to the murder, had been an FBI informant for more than two years before the trial (Butler had denied ever being a police informant when on the witness stand). Cochran considered the release "the happiest day" of his legal practice.

Johnnie Cochran was a longtime crusader¹ against police abuses, often in cases involving Afro-American clients.

Note:

¹crusader - крестоносец