Vocabulary

allegation n заявление, утверждение

applicable adj соответствующий

apply v применять, использовать

assign v передавать

award relief предоставить средства судебной защиты

chamber n контора адвоката

clerical staff n клерки

compliance n соблюдение / выполнение правовых норм

constitute v составлять

felony n уголовное преступление; фелония

litigant n тяжущаяся сторона, сторона по делу

merit n конкретное обстоятельство; существо; повод

misdemeanour n проступок

oversee v надзирать

pending впредь до

pleading n ходатайство

sentence v выносить приговор

terminally ill смертельно больной

transcend v превышать, выходить за пределы

virtually adj фактически

waive v отказываться

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1 How do you define “judge”?

2 What cases do judges preside over?

3 What do they insure?

4 How do judges hold pretrial hearings for cases?

5 How do judges work with juries?

6 How do judges work outside the courtroom?

7 How do judges’ duties vary?

8 What are the functions of the Federal court judges?

9 What cases do municipal court judges handle?

10 What are the functions of administrative law judges?

Vocabulary tasks

A Match the following English legal phrases with their Russian equivalents.

1 civil dispute a председательствовать на судебном

процессе

2 pretrial hearing b вводить ограничения

3 compensation for damages c суд присяжных

4 apply the law d рассматривать дело

5 preside over case e тяжкое преступление

6 impose restrictions f отрасли права

7 jury trial g гражданский спор

8 try a case h возмещение ущерба

9 felony offense (-ce) i досудебное слушание дела

10 areas of law j применять закон

B Complete these sentences with the words from the box.

law interfere judges bear the burden direct contact justices courts legislators precedent conducting decisions

Judges and Justices

The people who operate our courts are usually called 1) _________ . In the USA Supreme Court jurists are called 2) _________ . Trial judges are the main link between the 3) _________ and the citizens it serves. Trial judges 4) ________ of upholding the dignity of the 5) _________ and maintaining respect for the law. They should not improperly 6) ________ in the conduct of a trial. Trial judges are responsible for 7) _________ the “search for truth”.

The roles of justice and judge differ substantially. Whereas a trial judge has 8) ________ with the litigation and litigants, a justice rarely has any contact with them. Justices give reasons for their decisions in written form so that they will become 9) ________ and a part of the body of law. Thus, 10) __________ by justices may affect society as a whole. In this sense, the role of justices is similar to that of 11) ________ .

Over to you

Describe jour job you would like to do as a lawyer in the US.