Unit 8 Courts in Great Britain

1. Transcribe and memorise the following words:

Proceeding, Magistrates’ Courts, offence, offender, indictable, throughout, preside, injury.

2. Read and translate the text.

Judiciary in Great Britain

Criminal Proceedings. There are two courts of trial and two courts of appeal for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The courts of trial are the Magistrates' Court and the Crown Courts, and the courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

The Magistrates' Court.The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the Magistrates' Court. The Magistrates' Court is the lower court of trial. It deals with summary offences. More serious criminal cases (indictable offences) then go to the Crown Court. Civil cases are dealt with in County courts.

Magistrates' Courts have limited powers of penalty but they may commit a convicted offender to the Crown Court if it is considered that the powers of the Magistrates' Court are insufficient. Approximately 95% of all prosecutions are dealt with in the Magistrates' Courts.

Juvenile Courts are composed of specially trained magistrates. They try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 1 8 years.

The Crown Court. The Crown Court is the senior court of trial for criminal offences. The courts are established at various centres throughout the country. The courts are presided over by either a High Court Judge, Circuit Judge or Recorder who sits with a jury. The Crown Court for the City of London is the Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey.

The Crown Court may also hear appeals against conviction and/or sentence for some offences dealt with at the Magistrates' Court.

The Court of Appeal.The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Courts.

The House of Lords.The House of Lords is the most senior and final court of appeal.

Civil Proceedings.Civil proceedings consist of litigation about property, family matters and actions to obtain financial redress for damage to property and personal injury. The courts of trial for such litigation are the County Court and the High Court of Justice. County Courts are local courts and are presided over by a single Judge. The High Court of Justice is situated in London. Some cases before the High Court of Justice may be heard before a jury.

Word list

Judiciary — судочинство

court of trial — суд першої інстанції

court of appeal — апеляційний суд

the Magistrates' Court — Магістральний суд

the Crown Court — Королівський суд

juvenile court — суд у справах неповнолітніх

summary offence — злочин, який не становить великої суспільної небезпеки;

indictable offence — особливо тяжкий злочин;

jury — суд присяжних;

penalty — покарання, стягнення, штраф;

convicted — ув'язнений, в'язень;

prosecution — судовий розгляд;

judge — суддя;

to sentence for smth — засуджувати за щось; виносити вирок;

litigation — тяжба, спір;

to obtain financial redress for smth — одержати фінансове відшкодування за щось;

injury — образа, кривда;

3. Read and translate.

a) trial; jury trial; a fair trial; a closed trial, a court trial; to be on trial for murder; a field trial; to conduct a trial; to hold a trial; to bring somebody to trial, to put somebody on trial; to stand trial for murder; the case went to trial.

b) Sentence; to impose a sentence; to pass a sentence; to carry of a sentence; to execute a sentence; to serve a sentence; to reduce a sentence; to suspend a sentence; a severe sentence; a light sentence; a death sentence; a life sentence; a prison sentence; to sentence; to sentence to five years for theft.

4. Fill in the blanks.

1. There are two courts of... and two courts of... for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland,

2. The Magistrates' Court deals with....

3. More serious offences go to the....

4. Magistrates' Courts have limited powers of....

5. Magistrates' Courts may commit... to the Crown Court.

6. Approximately 95% of all... are dealt with in the Magistrates' Court.

7. ... courts try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 18 years.

8. The Crown Court is the senior court of trial for.......

9. The Crown Court may hear... against conviction and/or... for some offences dealt with at the Magistrates' Court.

10. The Court of... hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Court.

11. The House of Lords is the most senior and final.......

12. Civil proceedings consist of... about property, family matters and actions to obtain... for damage to property and personal injury.

13. County Courts are... over by a single Judge.

14. Some cases before the High Court of Justice may be heard before....

5. Read the following sentences and decide if they are true or false.

1. The courts of trial are the Magistrates' Court and the Crown Court.

2. The courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

3. The Magistrates' Court is the senior court of trial.

4. The Magistrates' Court deals with summary offences.

5. More serious offences are committed to the Crown Court.

6. Juvenile Courts try charges against convicted offenders.

7. Juvenile Courts try most charges against children and persons under the age of 18 years.

8. The Crown Court is the lower court of trial.

9. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Courts.

10. The House of Lords is the most senior and final court of appeal.

11. Criminal proceedings consist of litigation about property, family matters and actions to obtain financial redress for damage to property and personal injury.

12. County Courts are local courts and are presided over by a jury.

6. Find words and expressions in the text which mean:

1. the system of law courts in a country;

2. place where law-cases are held;

3. person against whom a legal action is brought;

4. punishment for wrongdoing;

5. court where children are tried;

6. crime breaking of a rule.

7. Ask questions to get the following answers.

1. There are two courts of trial and two courts of appeal for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

2. The courts of trial are the Magistrates' Court and the Crown Court.

3. The courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

4. The Magistrates' Court deals with summary offences.

5. The Crown Court deals with indictable offences.

6. Magistrates' Courts have limited powers of penalty.

7. Approximately 95% of all prosecutions are dealt with in the Magistrates' Courts.

8. Juvenile Courts try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 18 years.

8. Answer the following questions.

1. What courts are there in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

2. What offences does the Magistrates' Court deal with?

3. Where must be the most serious offences committed to?

4. What charges do Juvenile Courts try?

5. What court is the senior court of trial for criminal offences?

6. What is the most senior and final court of appeal?

7. What do civil proceedings consist of?

8. Where is the High Court of Justice situated?

9. Complete the following sentences by translating the words and expressions in brackets.

1. All criminal cases start in the (магістерському суді).

2. More serious criminal cases then go to (Королівський суд).

3. Civil cases are dealt with in (судах графств).

4. Appeals are heard by (апеляційними судами).

5. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is (Палата лордів).

6. The legal system also includes (суди у справах неповнолітніх) which deal with offenders under seventeen.

10. Work in pairs. Discuss the following.

-What courts do you think would deal with:

a) careless driving?

b) a divorce case?

c) a shoplifting committed by a schoolboy?

d) an assault causing actual bodily harm?

e) a murder of a child? Use the following expressions.

I am sure that....

I am certain that....

- There is no doubt, I am not sure....

I can't say for sure....

I agree with you....

I can't agree with you.

11. Read the text and translate it into Ukrainian.