Английский язык. Профессиональная лексика для юриста. Учебное пособие

TEXT A. Courts in the United Kingdom

Read and translate the text. Do the exercises given below.

The United Kingdom does not have a single unified legal system – England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. The structure of the courts in all three jurisdictions within the United Kingdom tends to be arranged according to the subject-matter of cases brought before the courts rather than the source of the laws to be applied.

Her Majesty’s Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The court system in England and Wales can be considered as consisting of 5 levels:

•Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council;

•Court of Appeal;

•High Court;

•Crown Court and County Courts;

•Magistrates’ Courts and the Tribunals Service.

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The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the court of final appeal for Commonwealth countries that have retained appeals to either Her Majesty in Council or to the Judicial Committee. It is also the court of final appeal for the High Court of Justiciary in Scotland for issues related to devolution.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the UK. In 2009 the Supreme Court replaced the House of Lords as the highest court in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. As with the House of Lords, the Supreme Court hears civil appeals from all four countries, and criminal appeals from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Permission to appeal to the Supreme Court will be given only if a case raises a point of general public importance. Cases are heard by five, seven or nine of the 12 Justices of the Supreme Court, each of whom reaches an individual decision that may consist of a lengthy speech. The Court’s decision may be reached either by unanimity or by a simple majority.

The Court of Appeal consists of 2 divisions, the Criminal Division and the Civil Division. Decisions of the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords). The Civil Division of the Court of Appeal hears appeals concerning civil law and family justice from the High Court, from Tribunals, and certain cases from the County Courts. The Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal hears appeals about alleged errors of law in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts. Cases are heard by three Lords Justices of Appeal, each of whom reaches an individual decision that may consist of a lengthy speech. The Court’s decision may be reached either by unanimity or by a 2:1 majority.

Decisions made in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court – and the Supreme Court’s predecessor, the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords – become precedents that must be followed by courts in all future cases. This ensures that similar cases are treated similarly, which many people regard as one of the most important aspects of justice.

The High Court is organised according to case type into Divisions: the family division, the chancery division, and the Queen’s Bench division (including the maritime and commercial courts). The Divisional Court of the Family Division deals with all matrimonial matters, including custody of children, parentage, adoption, family homes, domestic violence, separation, annulment, divorce and medical treatment declarations, and with uncontested probate matters. The Divisional Court of the Chancery Division deals with cases concerning equity, trusts, contentious probate, tax partner-

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ships, bankruptcy and land. The Chancery Division considers complex matters such as disputes about wills, settlements and trusts, bankruptcy, land law, intellectual property (copyright and patents) and corporate laws. Many of the company cases are dealt with in a specialist sub-Division, the Companies Court.

The Queen’s Bench Division deals with the remaining business – disputes about contracts or torts or land. The Queen’s Bench Division has some specialist sub-Divisions, including a Commercial Court (dealing with large and complex business disputes), a Crown Office List (dealing with actions against public authorities) and an Admiralty Court (shipping matters).

Decisions of the High Court may be appealed to the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.

The County Courts deal with all except the most complicated and the most simple civil cases (including most matters under the value of £5000), such as claims for repayment of debts, breach of contract involving goods or property, personal injury, family issues (including adoption and divorce), housing issues (including recovery of mortgage and rent arrears, and re-possession), and enforcement of previous County Court judgments. Cases are heard by a judge, without a jury. Decisions of the County Courts may be appealed to the appropriate Division of the High 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.

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.

In addition to the courts there are specialised tribunals. 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.

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Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1. Read the words. Mind the stress.

Exercise 2. Form nouns of the following verbs:

to detect, to convict, to probate, to confiscate, to prosecute, to investigate, to legislate, to detain, to indict, to commit, to treat, to establish, to require, to arrange, to enforce, to imprison.

Exercise 3. Complete the list of derivatives.

Exercise 4. Match the verbs on the left with the words on the right to form phrases.

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Exercise 5. Add nouns to the following verbs to form phrases.

draft, issue, file, serve, represent, practice, litigate, advise, submit, response, obtain, inform, instruct, deliver, obey

Exercise 6. Courts can be distinguished with regard to the type of cases they hear. Match each of the following types of court (1–9) with the explanation of what happens there (a–i).

Exercise 7. Match these documents (1–9) with their definitions (a–i).

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Exercise 8. How are the following ideas expressed in the text:

1)the hearing of a civil or criminal case before a court of competent jurisdiction;

2)a person between the age of 10 and 17 who has committed a crime;

3)the power of a court to hear and decide a case or make a certain order;

4)an application for the judicial examination by a higher court of the decision of any inferior court;

5)the system of dividing into regional districts for the purpose of court administration;

6)a binding judgement determined by analysis and adjudication of the factual issues presented, rather than by the existence of a technical or procedural defect that requires one party to prevail;

7)in pleading, the facts giving rise to a right enforceable in the courts, which must show the existence of a right, an injury and damages;

8)the parties actively involved in a lawsuit;

9)the reasonable use of judicial power, i.e., the court’s freedom to decide within the bounds of law action;

10)the determination of a controversy and pronouncement of judgement;

11)the traditional body of rules and practices related to business transacted at sea or to navigation, and always has been a body of law separate from every other jurisprudence.

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Exercise 9. Place the following terms under the correct heading. Two terms can appear in both columns.

Сompensation, contract, crime, damages, family law, intellectual property, plaintiff, police, private individual, prosecution, the accused, the defendant, theft, to bring a case, to bring an action, to fine, to charge someone with something.

Exercise 10. Make the following sentences complete by translating the words and phrases in brackets.

Although the United Kingdom is a unitary (государство), England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own (правовые системы) and law (суды). There is a common distinction between (уголовное право), concerned with wrongful acts harmful to the community, and (гражданское право), concerned with individuals’ (права), (обязанности) and obligations towards one another.

Criminal law (имеет дело) with (преступление). А (судебное дело) is called а (обвинение). The case (возбуждается) by the (обвинитель), who takes over the case from the (полиция) who have already decided to (обвинять) the (ответчик) (or accused) with specified crimes.

The civil law is much more wide-ranging. The civil law includes the (договорное право) and (семейное право), the law of (гражданское правонарушение), constitutional and administrative, industrial, (морское право) and (церковное) law. In a civil case, the (истец), normally a private individual or company, (возбуждает судебное дело) to win compensation. If the case is proven (on the balance of probabilities, meaning that one is more sure than not), the (ответчик) normally pays the (истец) (компенсация).

Exercise 11. Go through the list of offences and decide which court they will be heard.

Murder, hijacking an aircraft, kidnapping, littering, writing graffiti on a public building, stealing a car, pickpocket, stealing sweets, making noise late at night, being on a bus without a ticket, violent behaviour in a football stadium, toxic waste, pollution.

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Exercise 12. a) Put the following headings in the correct spaces marked A – E. (1) Criminal Law, (2) The Judiciary, (3) The courts, (4) Civil Law, (5) The case.

b) Continue the network with other words and phrases on this subject. Compare your work with other members of the group.

Exercise 13. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Суд – это орган государства, который осуществляет разрешение в процессуальном порядке гражданских и уголовных дел. 2. Понятие «суд» означает как сам процесс судопроизвод-

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ства, так и учреждение, на которое возложено судебное разбирательство. 3. Государство издает законы, в соответствии с которыми суд признает подсудимого виновным или невиновным. 4. Судебная система – это совокупность судебных органов данного государства. 5. Суд формально отделен от исполнительных и законодательных органов власти. 6. Формы судебной организации и формы деятельности судов всегда зависели от экономических и политических основ данного государства. 7. Система судебных учреждений складывалась в течение многих веков. 8. В Англии принято различать суды уголовной юрисдикции и суммарной юрисдикции. 9. Суды в Англии делятся на местные, тесно связанные с органами местного самоуправления, и центральные суды. 10. Суды первой инстанции рассматривают уголовные или гражданские дела по существу. 11. Суды, которые пересматривают приговоры и решения нижестоящих судов по жалобам сторон или на основании протеста прокурора, являются судами второй инстанции. 12. Четкого разграничения компетенции всех судов в Англии нет. Однотипные дела могут рассматриваться различными судами. 13. Суд уголовной апелляции в Англии занимается пересмотром судебных решений в тех случаях, когда осуждены лица, обвиненные на основании обвинительного заключения. 14. Пересмотр судебных решений предпринимается для того, чтобы по возможности предотвратить излишнюю суровость или ненужную мягкость в вынесении приговора. 15. Существуют военные и военно-морские суды, коммерческие суды, суды по делам несовершеннолетних и др. 16. Суд королевской скамьи в Англии – это главный суд по уголовным делам, одно из отделений Высокого суда юстиции; он состоит из судей, назначаемых королем или королевой, и входит в состав Верховного суда. В качестве суда первой инстанции он рассматривает дела о важнейших уголовных преступлениях.

Language Development

Exercise1. Choose the best way to complete the following sentences.

1.The structure of the courts in all three jurisdictions within the United Kingdom tends…

2.The Courts of Justice of England and Wales are…

3.The court system in England and Wales can be considered as…

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4.The courts are established…

5.The cases in the Supreme Court are heard…

6.The Civil Division of the Court of Appeal hears appeals…

7.The High Court is organized…

8.The County Courts deal with…

9.The Queen’s Bench Division deals with…

10.The Crown Court deals with…

11.The Magistrates’ Courts deal with…

12.The Tribunals Service makes decisions…

Exercise 2. Mark the statements which are true.

1.Her Majesty’s Courts of Justice of England and Wales apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom.

2.The Supreme Court hears civil appeals from all Commonwealth countries.

3.Cases in the Supreme Court are heard by three, seven or eight of the 15 Justices of the Supreme Court.

4.The three Divisions of the High Court each hear different kind of cases.

5.A jury is always present at the Crown Court hearings.

6.The county courts only hear cases concerning statute law.

7.All English judges and magistrates are professional lawyers.

8.The Magistrates’ courts hear certain categories of less important cases.

9.The Magistrates’ courts investigate some cases which are later tried by jury in the Crown Court.

10.The Magistrates’ courts can choose to hear cases with or without a jury.

Exercise 3. Choose the best alternative to complete the sentences.

1.Courts of Justice of England and Wales are established…

a)under Acts of the Parliament;

b)under Her Majesty appointment;

c)under the decision of the Supreme Court.

2.The court system in England and Wales can be considered as …

a)3 levels;

b)5 levels;

c)2 levels.

3.Permission to appeal to the Supreme Court will be given…

a)only if a case is of sufficient importance;

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