Laws and Punishments
To observe the law - formal; to obey the law - less formal (COL)
To introduce/pass the law + to/V-ing/that: UK Government introduced the law of murder/manslaughter of a domestic animal. (COL)
To act within the law: A policeman on duty is obliged to act within the law when a crime or misdemeanour is committed or when there is justified suspicion of its being committed.(COL)
To uphold/enforce the law - to make sure, that people observe the law: The president enforces laws through the creation of law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, CIA, and even the local sheriff's department.(COL)
The law forbids/prohibits - the law does not allow (COL)
The rules permit/allow: Every new driver has to learn the permit driving rules of their state in order to operate a motor vehicle safely.(COL)
Rules/regulations apply to: I don't get to live by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me.(COL)
To follow the rules ≈ observe the law: Most things work more smoothly when we all follow the rules.(COL)
The regulations require/stipulate - the rules say, that = To comply with the regulations (COL)
To bend the rules - to break the rules in a way that is not considered important: We don't usually let students take books home, but I'll bend the rules this time. (IDIOM)
To carry out an investigation = to investigate (COL)
To appear in court:I have to appear in court for my traffic violation. (IDIOM)
To be/go on trial 1.[of someone] in a legal case before a judge. The criminal was on trial for over three months. lam not on trial. Don't treat me like that! 2. being tested; being examined or experimented with. The new strain of wheat is on trial in Kansas at the present time. The teaching method is on trial in the school system. (COL)
To go to trial[for a case] to go into court to be tried. When will this case go to trial? We go to trial next Monday. (IDIOM)
A fair trial - legal and ethical concept used to describe the procedural rules of a court and the treatment of those accused of a crime(TERM)
To reach a verdict: A JURY has been discharged after it was unable to reach a verdict on whether Wally James Hung was guilty of the manslaughter of a young footballer with a single punch. (COL)
To be (severely) punished (TERM/COL)
To face/pay a heavy fine (COL)
To face the death/harsh penalty/sentence (COL)
To act as a deterrent(about punishment) (COL)
To suffer the consequences -to experience the effects of something you have said or done The witness decided to tell the truth and suffer the consequences. (IDIOM)
A hard legal battle: 18 young people who blame their disabilities on exposure to toxic materials win this hard legal battle. (TERM)
To win a case: In order to obtain the right to do so it had been obliged to bring and win a case before the European Court of Human Courts. (COL)