Courts in great britain

Someone commits a crime. If the police have enough evidence they charge the suspect. The policemen take the suspect to the Magistrates’ Court. If the crime is not very serious (for example, parking violation) the Magistrates’ Court can decide it. The Magistrates’ Courts try the majority of all criminal cases and some civil cases. Lay magistrates (also called justices of the peace - J.P.s) who work part-time and don’t get a salary usually preside at these courts. The courts consist of between 2 and 7 magistrates. In some large cities there are also stipendiary magistrates who sit alone and have legal training. If the crime is serious (for example, a murder) the case goes to the Crown Court which deals with the most serious criminal cases and hears appeals from Magistrates’ Courts. The accused has the right to trial by jury there.

Civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy) go to County Courts which are the main civil courts. The High Court hears those civil cases that the County Courts can’t decide. The Court of Appeal hears both criminal and civil appeals. The House of Lords is the final appellate tribunal. The judges in the House of Lords are the ten "Lords of Appeal in Ordinary" (the "law lords"). Some cases go to the European Court of Human Rights. There are also juvenile courts for criminals under 17 and Coroner’s Courts which investigate cases of violent death.

II. Найдите в тексте А предложения, отвечающие на следующие вопросы:

1. В каком суде обычно начинается рассмотрение уголовного дела в Великобритании?

2. При каких условиях полиция отправляет дело в магистратский суд?

3. Какие дела может рассматривать магистратский суд?

4. Кто является судьей в магистратском суде?

5. В какие инстанции (более высокие, чем магистратские суды) направляются серьезные гражданские дела? Дайте краткую характеристику функций и возможностей этих судов.

6. Каковы функции апелляционного суда?

7. Какова роль палаты лордов в судопроизводстве Великобритании?

8. Дела каких преступников рассматриваются в суде по делам несовершеннолетних?

III. Заполните пропуски, используя следующие слова и выражения:

suspect, commits, appellate tribunal, evidence, County Court, Crown Court, European Court of Human Rights, criminal and civil appeals, Magistrates’ Court, juvenile court

1. A criminal is a person who ... a crime.

2. The police must have enough ... to charge the suspect.

3. The police have evidence against the ....

4. A parking violation case usually goes to ....

5. A murder case usually goes to ....

6. A divorce case usually goes to ....

7. Cases of criminals under 17 go to ... .

8. The Court of Appeal hears both ....

9. Some cases go to the ....

10. The House of Lords is the final ....

IV. Переведите следующие словосочетания с русского языка на английский:

полиция арестовывает преступника; совершать преступление; иметь достаточно улик; обвинять подозреваемого; вынести решение по делу; магистратский суд; разбирать в судебном порядке; уголовное дело; гражданское дело; мировой судья; работать неполный рабочий день; выносить решение по делу; нарушение правил парковки; иметь юридическое образование; обвиняемый; иметь право на суд присяжных; рассматривать апелляции; Суд Короны; верховный суд; суд графства; апелляционный суд; банкротство; Европейский суд по правам человека; Суд по делам несовершеннолетних.

V. Составьте предложения, соединив левую и правую колонки:

1) If the policemen have enough evidence 2) If the crime is not very serious 3) Serious criminal cases 4) Magistrates' Courts 5) Crown Courts 6) County Courts 7) Court of Appeal 8) High Court 9) House of Lords

a) they charge the suspect. b) go to the Crown Courts. c) the Magistrates' Court can decide it. d) deal with the most serious criminal and some civil cases. e) try the majority of all criminal cases. f) are the main civil courts. g) hears all civil cases that County Courts cannot decide. h) is the final appellate tribunal. i) hears both criminal and civil appeals.

VI. Найдите в тексте А и переведите на русский язык глаголы в форме 3 л. ед. ч. в Present Simple.

VII. Заполните пропуски, используя глаголы, данные в скобках:

1. A criminal ... (to commit) a crime.

2. The policemen ... (to have) evidence against the suspect.

3. The policemen ... (to charge) the suspect.

4. The Magistrates’ Courts ... (to try) the majority of all criminal cases and some civil cases.

5. If the crime ... (not to be) very serious the Magistrates’ Court... (can) decide it.

6. A justice of the peace ... (to work) part-time and ... (not to get) a salary.

7. Stipendiary magistrates ... (to sit) alone and ... (to have) legal training.

8. The Crown Court... (to deal) with the most serious criminal cases and ... (to hear) appeals from Magistrates’ Courts.

9. The accused ... (to have) the right to trial by jury in the Crown Court.

10. The High Court ... (to hear) those civil cases that the County Courts can’t decide.

11. The Court of Appeal ... (to hear) both criminal and civil appeals.

12. The House of Lords ... (to be) the final appellate tribunal.

13. Some cases ... (to go) to the European Court of Human Rights.

14. Cases of criminals under 17 ... (to go) to juvenile courts.

VIII. Ответьте на вопросы упражнения II.

Прочитайте и переведите текст В.