The Jury Service

The job of a juror is to listen to all evidence presented at trial and “to decide the facts” – that is to decide what really happened. The jury is required to sit quietly during the trial and to listen carefully to the speeches of the counsels, to concentrate on the evidence being presented. They listen to the cross-examination of witnesses making notes when necessary. They are often given documents, photographs and other pieces of evidence to examine.

In order to do their job, jurors do not need any special knowledge or ability. They are instructed by the judge on legal norms. It is important for jurors to listen attentively to the judge’s instructions. The jury will then retire to the jury room to reach a verdict. They elect one of their members as a foreman. Once a verdict has been arrived at, the jury will re-enter the courtroom and announce the verdict without any explanation or justification [1].

Vocabulary Focus

Task I. Make up possible word-combinations.

1. Jury (рассмотрение дела с участием суда присяжных, выполнять обязанности присяжного, иметь право исполнять обязанности присяжного, быть лишенным права исполнять обязанности присяжного, быть освобожденным от обязанностей присяжного, отбирать присяжных).

2. Verdict (обсудить, вынести, объявить, обвинительный, оправдательный).

3. Trial (судебный процесс с участием присяжных, судебный процесс без участия присяжных, во время судебного процесса, отдавать в руки правосудия, уголовное судопроизводство).

4. Task II. Translate the following words into English and make up the word-combinations.

обвинительный

Обсуждать

Verdict Выносить

оправдательный

Объявлять

Task III. Match the words on the left with their Russian equivalents on the right.

To hear a case To serve on a jury To be instructed by a judge To leave the courtroom To find the defendant guilty To elect a foreman To return a verdict To be eligible for jury service To be disqualified from jury service To be excused from jury service A verdict of conviction A verdict of acquittal Trial by jury Judge trial To present evidence

представлять доказательства покинуть зал судебных заседаний исполнять обязанности присяжного заслушивать дело получить указания от судьи признать подсудимого виновным иметь право исполнять обязанности присяжного быть лишенным права исполнять обязанности присяжного выносить решение присяжных избирать старшину присяжных обвинительный вердикт оправдательный вердикт получить освобождение от обязанностей присяжного судебное разбирательство без суда присяжных судебное разбирательство с участием суда присяжных

Task IV. Complete the following sentences using the words in the box.

1. A Crown Court jury consists of 12__________.

2. Unless a person is disqualified, ineligible or ________ from jury service, he/she must attend the trial or risk a penalty, usually a fine.

3. It is the duty of the judge to decide all__________ where the duty of the jury is to decide all __________.

4. A person sentenced to prison for five years or more is __________ from jury service for life.

5. The jury is required to sit quietly during the trial and to listen carefully to the presentation of __________.

6. The jurors may find the __________ guilty or not guilty.

7. If the jury returns a __________ the defendant is free to go.

8. If the jury returns a __________ the judge will pass a sentence.

jurors matters of fact verdict of acquittal

d) excused e) disqualified f) defendant

g) matters of law h) evidence j) verdict of conviction