Unit 7 Judges and Juries

Judges and juries are essential parts of our legal system. The judge presides over the trial and has duty of protection the rights of those involved. Judges also make sure that attorneys follow the rules of evidence and trial procedure. In nonjury trials, the judge has the function of determining the facts of the case and rendering a judgment. In jury trials, the judge is required to instruct the jury as to the law involved in the case. Finally, in criminal trials, judges are required to sentence individuals convicted of committing a crime.

The right to trial by jury is guaranteed by the Sixth and Seventh Amendments of the Constitution. This right applies both federal and state courts. However, a jury is not required in every case. Juries are not used as often as one might think. In civil cases, either the plaintiff or the defendant may request a jury trial. In criminal cases, the defendant decides whether there will be a jury. Many civil cases result in out-of-court settlements or trials by a judge. In criminal cases, most cases are never brought to trial. Instead, they are disposed of by plea bargaining.

If a jury trial is requested, a jury is selected and charged with the task of determining the facts and applying the law in the particular case. To serve on a jury, you must be a citizen of the United States, at least eighteen years of age, and a resident of the state. Persons commonly excused from jury duty include clergy, attorneys, physicians, police officers, fire fighters, convicted felons, and persons who are physically or mentally ill.

Once selected, jurors are assigned to specific cases after being screened though a process known as voir dire examination. In this process, opposing lawyers question each prospective juror to discover any prejudices or preconceived opinions concerning the case. After questioning each juror, the opposing attorneys may request the removal of any juror who does not appear capable of rendering a fair and impartial verdict. This is called removal for cause. In addition, each attorney is allowed a limited number of peremptory challenges. This means they can have prospective jurors removed without stating a cause.

Recognition vocabulary

verbs	nouns	adjectives
preside - председательствовать protect - защищать invove - вовлекать determine - определять require - требовать sentence - осуждать, приговаривать apply - прилагать, применять request - просить, запрашивать dispose (of) - отделываться (от) select - выбирать charge - вменять в обязанности exсuse (from) -освобождать include - включать assign - назначать screen - прикрывать, просеивать remove - отстранять make sure - убедиться follow the rule -следовать правилу render judgement - выносить судебное решение	rights - права attorney - поверенный, адвокат rule - правило judge -судья jury -присяжные заседатели evidence - улики, свидетельские показания amendment - поправка resident - постоянный житель citizen - гражданин clergy - духовенство physician - врач police officer -полицейский fire fighter - пожарный convicted felon - осужденный преступник juror - присяжный prejudice - предубеждение opinion - мнение removal - отстранение peremptory challenge - безапелляционный отвод out-of-court settlement - внесудебное разрешение (дела) plea bargaining - взаимное соглашение	essencial - существенный legal - правовой, судебный, юридический particular - особенный, частный, отдельный specific - особый prospective - перспективный capable - способный impartial -беспристрастный preconceived - предвзятый word-combinations at least - по крайней мере voir dire (фр.) - говорить правду