Text e The International Court of Justice

Task: supply the text with the missing verbs in the correct form.

to bring; to decide; to compose; to elect; to embrace; to be obliged; to found; to bring

The International Court of Justice _____ by the Charter of the United Nations is the main judicial organ of the United Nations. All member-states are parties to the Statute of the Court¹. Every member _____ to comply with the decisions of the Court. The jurisdiction of the Court _____ cases which parties _____ to it and matters especially provided for in the Charter or in treaties in force. The Court gives advisory opinions on legal matters _____ to it by the General Assembly, the Security Council² and other organs. Its decisions are final and compulsory between the parties concerned. The court _____ of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council, each organ voting independently. The judges_____ on the basis of their qualifications, not on the basis of their nationality. No two of the judges may be citizens of the same state. A quorum of 9 judges is enough to constitute the Court. All questions _____ by majority.

Notes:

1. Statute of the Court – Устав Суда

2. Security Council – Совет Безопасности

Dialogue 1. Consulting a Lawyer

Task: read the dialogue, reproduce it a) abridged, b) in the form of a monologue.

Mrs Black: Can my husband get released from custody if I put up the necessary amount as security?

Lawyer: The court is deciding it. But as Mr Blake is charged with murder under aggravating circumstances he might not be given conditional bail before trial.

Mrs Black: He says his case won’t be heard by the Magistrates’ Court. I’ve got some hope as it is going to be decided by a jury. You see I don't believe my husband is guilty. He couldn’t do it, just couldn’t.

Lawyer: You must know it’ll take much longer to have it heard in the Crown Court. Anyhow, people prefer their cases to be conducted by their fellow-citizens.

Mrs Black: Of course, there’s less room for mistakes if 12 people make a decision. What are you planning to do if my husband is found guilty?

Lawyer: It’s too early to plan anything yet. The case is being investigated. The police haven't collected enough evidence. Some new facts might reveal he's innocent. Of course, if we don’t win I’ll appeal to the High Court for reassessment. I’m sure I’ll be able to show certain reasons for dissatisfaction.

Mrs Black: Thank you, Mr Shaw. I know it's a very time-consuming and costly procedure, but you must try all ways.

Lawyer: I say, Mrs Black, I'm ready to carry the case through the system of appeal all the way to the House of Lords. But I don’t believe there'll be necessity of the kind.

Mrs Black: I appreciate your efforts. When are they going to decide whether to release my husband before trial or not?

Lawyer: I must be present in the courtroom in half an hour. As soon as the decision's been made I'll call you or I'll bring your husband home.

Ex. 1. How is the following expressed in the dialogue?

1. words which prove a statement, support a belief, or make a matter more clear

2. money left with a court of law so that a prisoner may be set free until he is tried

3. a group of people chosen to decide questions of fact in a court of law

4. to make a strong request for help, support

5. to be thankful or grateful

6. to examine the reason for smth

7. the act of hearing and judging a person

8. a judgement or opinion

9. expensive

10. imprisonment

Ex. 2. Study the dialogue and find the sentences in which the speakers express:

agreement disagreement

estimation certainty

Ex. 3. Give Russian equivalents to the following:

to release from custody to put up money as security to be charged with aggravating circumstances conditional bail to conduct a case

to make a decision to collect evidence to reveal reassessment dissatisfaction time-consuming

Ex. 4. Present the information from the dialogue making use of the following verbs:

to wonder, to explain, to stress, to mention, to assure, to inform, to analyse, to inquire, to promise, to believe, to thank.