Crown Court

The Crown Court deals with indictable criminal cases that have been transferred from the Magistrates’ Courts, including hearing of serious criminal cases (such as murder, rape and robbery), cases sent for sentencing, and appeals. Cases are heard by a judge and a jury. Decisions of the Crown Court may be appealed to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.

Magistrates’ Courts

The Magistrates’ Courts deal with summary criminal cases and committals to the Crown Court, with simple civil cases including family proceedings courts and youth courts, and with licensing of betting, gaming and liquor. Cases are normally heard by either a panel of 3 magistrates or by a District Judge, without a jury. Criminal decisions of the Magistrates’ Courts may be appealed to the Crown Court. Civil decisions may be appealed to the County Courts.

Tribunals Service

The Tribunals Service makes decisions on matters including asylum, immigration, criminal injuries compensation, social security, education, employment, child support, pensions, tax and lands. Decisions of the Tribunals Service may be appealed to the appropriate Division of the High Court.

Court Structure of Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS)

Vocabulary

High Court of Justiciary Высший уголовный суд Шотландии

to pass off зд. выносить решение, приговор

Inner House of the Court of Session Внутренняя палата (вторая инстанция) сессионного суда Шотландии

Privy Council Тайный совет; Judicial Committee of the Privy Council судебный комитет Тайного совета (орган, при участии и с согласия которого король решал дела, не проходящие через Парламент. При Тюдорах и у первых Стюартов был основным институтом управления. В настоящее время сохраняет формальные полномочия по выпуску королевских прокламаций и приказов. Члены кабинета министров автоматически становятся членами Совета. Возглавляет его лорд Председатель Совета.)

High Court Высокий суд

Chancery Division Канцелярское отделение (суд первой инстанции)

Companies Court Судебная палата для юридических лиц (при Регистрационной палате)

Divisional Court апелляционное присутствие отделения королевской скамьи (Высокого суда правосудия)

Patents Court суд по патентным делам

Family Court суд по делам семьи

Administrative Court административный суд

Admiralty Court адмиралтейский/ морской суд

Commercial Court коммерческий суд

Mercantile Court торговое право

Technology and Construction Court суд, призванный дать толкование документам

County Court суд графства

Crown Court Суд короны, Уголовный суд присяжных

Magistrates’ Court магистратский/ мировой суд (магистрат – должностное лицо, осуществляющее правосудие)

Tribunal трибунал; суд; орган правосудия

LESSON 3 KINDS OF LAW IN THE UNITED STATES

Text 1 Law in the United States

There are 51 legal systems in the United States: the federal system and a separate system in each of the 50 states. Although these systems are mainly similar, they also have important differences. The basic reason for these differences is that each of the 13 original states was previously sovereign (independent).

The US law consists of the following:

1 The Constitution of the United States and of 50 states, and charters or constitutions for cities and counties;

2 The statutes enacted by elected representatives;

3 Administrative law;

4 Case law, as expressed in court decisions.

These four types of law are each created by federal and state governments. Local governments generally create only statutory and administrative laws.