Text 7 judges. Nature of the work

Exercise 7.1 Study the vocabulary:

to apply the law	1) застосовувати закон
to oversee	2) наглядати, слідкувати
to ensure	3) гарантувати, забезпечувати
to preside	4) головувати
traffic offence	5) дорожнє правопорушення
an attorney	6) адвокат; юрист; аторней; прокурор (в США)
admissibility	7) допустимість, можливість
testimony	8) показання свідків
to settle dispute	9) розв’язувати спір
to proceed	10) продовжувати, відновлювати
pretrial hearing	11) попереднє слухання
an allegation	12) заява
a pending trial	13) справа, що знаходиться на стадії розгляду
to release	14) звільнити
to impose restriction (to impose а sentence)	15) накладати обмеження (виносити вирок)
liability	16) відповідальність
to deduce	17) робити висновок; виводити
to award relief	18) надавати звільнення
a compensation for damage	19)відшкодування збитків
a lawsuit	20) судовий процес, тяганина
to overrule decision	21) анулювати рішення
to rule on	22) вести справу
a litigant	23) сторона (в суд. процесі)
court's record	24) протокол суду

Exercise 7.2 Read and translate the text:

Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers apply the law and oversee the legal process in courts. They preside over cases concerning every aspect of society, from traffic offences, to disputes over the management of professional sports, to issues concerning the rights of huge corporations. All judicial workers must ensure that trials and hearings are conducted fairly.

The most visible responsibility of judges is presiding over trials or hearings and listening as attorneys represent their clients. Judges rule on the admissibility of evidence and the methods of conducting testimony, and they may be called on to settle disputes between opposing attorneys. Also, they ensure that rules and procedures are followed, and if unusual circumstances arise for which standard procedures have not been established, judges interpret the law to determine how the trial will proceed.

Judges often hold pretrial hearings for cases. They listen to allegations and determine whether the evidence presented merits a trial. In criminal cases, judges may decide that people charged with crimes should be held in jail pending trial, or they may set conditions for their release. In civil cases, judges and magistrates occasionally impose restrictions on the parties until a trial is held.

In many trials, juries are selected to decide guilt or innocence in criminal cases, or liability and compensation in civil cases. Judges instruct juries on applicable laws, direct them to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdict. When the law does not require a jury trial, judges decide cases. In such instances, the judge determines guilt in criminal cases and imposes sentences on the guilty; in civil cases, the judge awards relief – such as compensation for damages – to the winning parties to the lawsuit.

Judges' duties vary according to the extent of their jurisdictions and powers. General trial court judges of the Federal and State court systems have jurisdiction over any case in their system. Federal and State appellate court judges have the power to overrule decisions made by trial court judges. Appellate court judges rule on a small number of cases and rarely have direct contact with litigants. Instead, they usually base their decisions on the lower court's records and on lawyers' written and oral arguments.

Exercise 7.3 Choose the best answer:

1. What is the function of the judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers?

1. to apply the law and oversee the legal process in courts;

2. to accuse smb;

3. to defend a client.

2. What should all judicial workers do?

a) should present their defendants;

b) must ensure that trials and hearings are conducted fairly;

c) must ensure that trials are conducted easily.

3. What is the most visible responsibility of judges?

a) deciding the guilt or innocence of the accused;

b) presiding over trials;

c) presiding over trials or hearings and listening as attorneys represent their clients.

4. What may judges decide in criminal cases?

a) that people charged with crimes should be held in jail pending trial, or they may set conditions for their release;

b) that people charged with crimes should pay damages;

c) that people charged with crimes should be free.

5. What may judges and magistrates occasionally do in civil cases?

a) impose penalty;

b) impose restrictions on the parties until a trial is held;

c) pass a sentence.

6. What are the main duties of a jury?

1. to accuse the offender;

2. to pass a verdict in all cases;

3. to decide guilt or innocence in criminal cases, or liability and compensation in civil cases.

7. What factors do the judges' duties depend on?

1. judges' duties vary according to the extent of their jurisdictions and powers;

2. judges' duties depend on the type of court;

3. judges' duties depend on the type of case.

Exercise 7.4 Replace the following words:

1. Attorneys preside over cases concerning every aspect of society.

2. Judges rule on the admissibility of case and the methods of conducting trial.

3. They may be called on to settle crisis between opposing attorneys.

4. Judges often hold pretrial decisions for cases.

5. When the law does not require a lawyer, judges decide cases.

6. General trial court judges of the Federal and State court systems have power over any case in their system.

7. Appellate court judges rule on a small number of cases and rarely have direct contact with plaintiffs.

Exercise 7.5 Choose the best variant:

1. Judges ensure that rules and procedures are _________.

1. followed;

2. defined;

3. settled.

2. If unusual circumstances arise for which standard procedures have not been established, judges _______to determine how the trial will proceed.

1. decide a case;

2. interpret the law;

3. apply the law.

3. Judges listen to allegations and determine whether the evidence presented merits _______.

1. a penalty;

2. a trial;

3. a decision.

4. In________, the judge awards relief to the winning parties to the lawsuit.

1. civil cases;

2. criminal cases;

3. disputable cases.

5. Federal and State appellate court judges have the power ____made by trial court judges.

1. to impose sentence;

2. to abolish laws;

3. to overrule decisions.

6. Appellate court judges usually base their decisions on the lower court’s ______and on lawyers’ written and oral arguments.

1. rulings;

2. records;

3. decisions.

Exercise 7.6 Match the synonyms:

Case	charge
Magistrate	tribunal
Court	matter
Lawsuit	Justice of Peace
Accusation	individual
Accuser	offence
Person	civil action
Wrong	prosecutor

Exercise 7.7 Match the verbs with the appropriate nouns:

To commit	a criminal
To give	a verdict
To pass	evidence
To impose	a case
To punish	a case
To bring	penalty
To try	a crime
To hear	an action