The Fear of Jury Duty

For Americans, serving jury duty has always been a dreaded chore. There is plenty of history behind this fear. In colonial days, jurors were locked in a small room with no ventilation and were denied food and water in an attempt to inspire a quick verdict. If the jurors returned with the wrong decisions, they too were charged with a crime. As more and more laws were passed, the rules of evidence expanded and trials became longer, which resulted in more technical and increasingly boring hours for jurors. Trial lawyers have tried to change the boredom by replacing endless hours of testimony with computer animation, video reconstructions, colour charts and graphics to better explain the evidence.

The judicial system depends on juries. The United States Constitution guarantees its citizens the right to a trial by jury of their peers. When summoned for jury duty, Americans should look upon it as an opportunity to serve their country, their community and fellow citizens.

Each year, over 5 million Americans are summoned for jury duty to render verdicts in approximately 120,000 trials.

Prospective jurors are chosen at random from voter registration lists. When people are chosen for jury duty, they are often shown a video tape explaining the jury system or given a Handbook of Jury Service

Answer the following questions:

1.Why have Americans always feared the jury service?

2.In what conditions were jurors kept in colonial days? Why?

3. How has trial procedure changed through the years?

4. Why is the right to a jury trial considered to be so important for the U.S. citizens?

4. Граматичний аспект заняття.

- виконання вправ на закріплення і практикуваня умовних речень І типу.

1. Translate the sentences into English:

1) Якщо приїдеш потягом, подзвони мені, я тебе зустріну (to come to meet smb.). 2) Якщо буде дощ, закрий вікно, будь ласка. 3) Якщо прийдеш вчасно, ми подивимося футбольний матч по телевізору. 4) Якщо він буде лікарем, то буде багато заробляти (to earn much). 5) Я дам тобі нову адресу, якщо переїдемо. (to move to a new place). 6) Якщо Кейт не зрозуміє правила, поясни їй ще раз. 7) Я не піду на ту вечірку, якщо мене не запросять. 8) Якщо фільм буде цікавим, підемо у кіно ще раз. 9) Коли помиєш посуд, можеш піти пограти. 10) Якщо він виграє багато грошей (to win much money), то напевне (most probably) витратить їх на подорожі. (to spend money on smth.)

2. Translate the sentences from English into Ukrainian:

1) Jane will pass the exam if she works hard. 2) Jane will not pass the exam unless she works hard. 3) 4) If you take a taxi, you will be there in good time. 5) If you wear a coat, you won’t get cold. 6) Unless you come, Tom will be upset.

5. Підведення підсумків заняття.

6. Домашнє завдання.

Роздатковий матеріал до заняття 27

Тема: Jury Duty.

1. Read the words correctly:

Decision, petit, inquisition, Catholic, oath, ordeal, righteous, perjure, wrongdoer, priest, medieval, intervene, to drown, issue, simultaneously, jealous, medium, tie, sign, condemn, ritual, unanimity, unanimous, decision, designate, preclude, jeopardy, chore [ʧɔ:]

2. Study the vocabulary:

to release on bail – випустити під заставу;

jury duty – обов’язок присяжного;

community service – суспільно-корисна праця;

theft - крадіжка;

to found guilty – визнати винним;

to steal (stole, stolen) - красти;

witness – свідок;

to try for - судити за;

sentencing – вирок, рішення суду

curious 1) цікавий; допитливий; жадібний до знання 2) дивний, курйозний

(I’m curious – Мені цікаво)

alleged - уявний, той, який передбачається;

to claim – заявити;

bunch – пачка; група; в’язка;

to serve a time – відбувати строк, термін;

to get into trouble - попасти у халепу