Text b Judges in the Russian Federation

Judges shall be citizens of the Russian Federation over 25 years of age with a higher education in law who have served in the legal profession for not less than five years. Federal law may establish additional requirements for judges of the courts of the Russian Federation.

Judges shall be independent and shall be subordinate only to the Constitution and federal law.

Judges shall be irremovable.

The powers of a judge may be terminated or suspended only on the grounds and in accordance with the procedure established by federal law.

Judges shall be inviolable.

A judge cannot face criminal liability otherwise than in accordance with the procedure established by federal law.

Vocabulary

face criminal liability нести уголовную ответственность

ground n основание; on the grounds на основании

inviolable adj неприкосновенный, пользующийся неприкосновенностью

irremovable adj несменяемый

subordinate v подчинять; subordinate n подчиненный

suspend v приостанавливать

terminate v прекращать

Reading tasks

Answer these questions.

1 What is the role of the judge in Russia?

2 Who can be a judge?

3 What is social position of judges?

Comprehension check

For questions 1-2, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Questions:

1 Who can be a judge in the Russian Federation?

A Any citizen of the Russian Federation over 25 years of age can be a judge.

B A person with no special education.

C A 25–year old professional lawyer who is a citizen of the Russian

Federation and has served in the legal profession for not less than 5 years

can be a judge.

D Any professional lawyer who is a citizen of the Russian Federation.

2 What is the position of judges in the Russian Federation?

A Judges can be removed.

B Judges are dependent and subordinated to the President.

C Judges shall be inviolable.

D The powers of a judge are terminated or suspended in accordance with the

procedure established by the President.

Vocabulary tasks

A Complete the text with the words and phrases from the box.

law firms body legal documents lawyers (2) counsel jurisconsult defenсe plaintiffs subdivisions attorney advocates

1)________in private practice in Russia work mostly within colleges of advocates. There are about nineteen thousand 2)________ in more than one hundred colleges.

Colleges of advocates are formed in accordance with territorial 3)________. In its territory any college is represented by 4)________ or legal aid offices, which render all regular legal assistance to citizens: advocates 5)________ people, draft 6)________ , represent 7)________ or defendants in civil litigation, and provide 8)________ in criminal proceedings.

Many 9)________ are employed by the law offices of enterprises, ministries and agencies as in-house counsel ( 10________ ). These lawyers have all powers of an 11)________ but they represent their single and permanent “client” – their respective organization. There are about twenty thousand of them in Russia, and in view of the economic reform this 12)________ is growing.