Notes to the text:

Lord Chancellor is the chief judicial officer in the British Constitution. He (she ) is a peer and Cabinet Minister, Speaker of the House of Lords, president of the Supreme Court and of the House of Lords sitting as a final court of appeal. He appoints magistrates. Recommends people for high judicial office.

Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. The title of a judge with a life peerage who exercises the judicial functions of the House of Lords.

Old Bailey is the popular name for the Central Criminal Court.

Task 1. Give the Ukrainian equivalents of the following expressions.

Superior courts, judicial function, to exercise, the House of Lords, sitting, to hold judicial office, to hear cases (appeals), county court, convicted on indictment, Crown Court, limited jurisdiction, deal with, throughout England and Wales, magistrates’ court, part-time judges, try person, inferior courts, indictable offence, statutory offence, sentence.

Task 2. Give the English equivalents of the following expressions.

Суд вищої інстанції, засуджувати (судити), суди графств, звинувачення, суд обмеженої юрисдикції, апеляційний суд, звинувачений (підзахисний), слухання по справі, вирок суду, обвинувальний акт, Карний суд, судочинство, засідання суду, палата Лордів, Високий Суд, магістратські суди.

Task 3. Choose the correct word in brackets & complete the sentence:

1. The House of Lords has (general / limited) appellate jurisdiction.

2. The civil division (hears/ exercises) appeals from the High Court.

3. The Crown Court was (created/ limited) in 1972.

4. The Crown Court (comprises/ deals with) judges of the Queen’s Bench Division.

5. The Crown Court (exercises/implements) criminal jurisdiction.

6. County courts have exclusively (civil/ criminal) jurisdiction.

7. Magistrates’ courts (consist of/ exercise) a stipendiary magistrate.

8. Magistrates’ courts have civil jurisdiction in relation to (debts, murders)

Task 4. Match the English and the Ukrainian equivalents.

the Court of Appeal to constitute a ,,precedent” the final tribunal High Court court of general jurisdiction to preside over court county courts limited jurisdiction Crown Court temporary appointment to try cases stipendiary magistrates magistrates courts

обмежена юрисдикція Суд Корони найвищий (остаточний) суд суди графств головувати у суді Високий Суд тимчасове призначення розглядати справи створити ,,прецедент’’ Апеляційний Суд суд загальної юрисдикції магістратські суди магістрати, які отримують платню

Task 5. Complete the sentence using the following words & phrases:

summarily, hears, hold office, civil, exercises, sittings, magistrate, jurisdiction

1. The Criminal division… appeals by persons convicted on indictment in the Crown Courts.

2. The House of Lords… the judicial function of Parliament

3. The Crown Court exercises criminal jurisdiction and… are held regularly.

4. The House has almost entirely appellate… only, in civil and criminal cases from the Courts of Appeal in England and in Northern Ireland and in civil cases only from the Court of Session in Scotland.

5. Magistrates’ courts consist of a stipendiary…

6. County courts have exclusively … jurisdiction.

7. The judges are persons who also … as Circuit judges of the Crown Court.

8. A magistrates’ court may try… many minor statutory offences.

Task 6. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. When the House of Lords sits as court only peers who are senior members of the judiciary can take part in the proceedings.

2. The House of Lords is the final court of appeal for civil and criminal cases in the UK.

3. The three divisions of the High Court each hear different kinds of cases.

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

5. The Old Baily is the name of the Crown Court for the London area.

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.

Task 7. Find in the text synonyms of the following words:

branch, fulfill, take part, be in high post, wholly, comprise, obligation, all over, judgment, appropriate, decide, form, layman, trial.

Task 8. Form the nouns from the following verbs and translate them into Ukrainian:

participate examine

divide conduct

convict prosecute

organize indict

investigate assign

agree decide

elect preside

Task 9. Make up sentences using the following expressions:

The judicial function, to hear appeals, criminal jurisdiction, consists of two judges, sittings are held, indictable offences, inferior courts, civil jurisdiction, Circuit judges, try summarily, minor offences.

Task 10. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate prepositions:

1. The highest court is the House … Lords.

2. The High Court is divided… three divisions.

3. Judges sit singly… juries.

4. There is an established convention dating … 1844.

5. The criminal jurisdiction of the High Court is exercised … the Queen’s Bench Division.

6. Divisional courts consisting … two judges have limited jurisdiction …

certain cases.

7. …. theory appeal to the House of Lords is an appeal … the whole House.

8. The Central Criminal Court is a sitting … the Crown Court.

9. Cases may be appealed … the Crown Court.

10. Defendants may be remitted sentence … the Crown Court.

Task 11. Decide which word is an odd one:

1. 1)convention 2) code 3) custom 4) legislation 5) judicial precedent;

2. 1) opposition 2) majority 3) Cabinet 4)Prime Minister 5)Home Secretary;

3. 1) life peerage 2) delaying power 3) Lord Chancellor 4) House of Commons 5) Lords spiritual;

4. 1) recommend 2) pass 3)abolish 4)enact 5)amend;

5. 1) binding precedent 2) judicial decision 3) parliamentary sovereignty 4) common law 5) authority;

6. 1) criminal law 2) case-law 3) Land Law4) Jurisprudence 5)Law of Tort;

7. 1) court 2) judge 3) tribunal 4) investigator 5)barrister.

Task 12. Answer the following questions:

1. What are two main areas of jurisdiction of English courts?

2. Which courts exercise jurisdiction in both areas?

3. Which are the superior courts in England and Wales?

4. Which is the final court of appeal?

5. Which division of the High Court has criminal jurisdiction?

6. What is the maximum number of appeals in a civil case?

7. And in a criminal case?

8. Do the county courts hear all civil cases?

Task 13. Translate the following text into English:

Магістратські суди – це суди, де слухаються дрібні цивільні та карні справи. Вони охоплюють всю територію країни. У самому Лондоні та в інших великих містах, в таких судах головують судді – магістрати. Це професійні юристи, які отримують платню, зазвичай вони засідають одноосібно. В інших місцях країни в таких судах головують мирові судді (зазвичай в складі трьох осіб), які не отримують платню, але котрі повинні мати бездоганну репутацію. Їх навчають основам судочинства, а магістратські клерки допомагають їм у питаннях судової процедури.

Task 14. Form adjectives from the following nouns:

judge, function, parliament, theory, appeal, practice, crime, division, jurisprudence, limit, person, suit, sentence.

Task 15. Complete the following text using the words from the box:

THE JURY IN BRITAIN

criminal offence; acquitted; challenge; civil cases; convicted; disqualified; liable for; ownership of property; randomly; right of appeal; evidence; judiciary; unanimous; undertake

Trial by jury is an ancient and important feature of English Justice. Although it has declined in _____ _____ (except for libel and fraud), it is the main element in criminal trials in the crown court. Jury membership was once linked to the _____ _____, which resulted in male and middle-class dominance. But now most categories of British residents are obliged to _____ jury service when summoned.

Before the start of criminal trial in the crown court, 12 jurors are chosen from a list of some 30 names _____ selected from local electoral registers. They listen to the _____ at the trial and give their verdict on the facts, having been isolated in a separate room for their deliberations. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the _____ may be ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’, the latter resulting in acquittal. Until 1967 the verdict had to be _____. But now the judge will accept a majority verdict after the jury has deliberated for more than two hours provided that, in the normal jury of 12 people, there no more than two dissenters.

In Scotland the jury’s verdict may be ‘guilty’, ‘not guilty’ or ‘not proven’; the accused is _____ if either of the last two verdicts is given. As a general rule no one may be _____ without corroborated evidence from at least two sources.

If the jury acquits the defendant, the prosecution has no _____ and the defendant cannot be tried again for the same offence.

A jury is independent of the _____. Any attempt to interfere with a jury is a _____ _____. Potential jurors are put on a panel before the start of the trial. In England and Wales the prosecution and the defence may _____ individual jurors on the panel, giving reasons for doing so. In Scotland the prosecution of defence may challenge up to three jurors without reason. In Northern Ireland each defendant has the right to challenge up to 12 potential jurors without given a reason.

People between the ages of 18 and 70 (65 in Scotland) whose names appear on the electoral register, with certain exceptions, are _____ _____ jury service and their names are chosen at random. Ineligible people include, for example, judges and people who have within the previous ten years been members of the legal profession or the police, prison or probation services. People convicted of certain offences within the previous ten years cannot serve on a jury. Anyone who has received a prison sentence of five years or more is _____ for life.

Just for Fun Jury is a group of twelve men who, having lied to the judge about their hearing, health, and business engagements, have failed to fool him. Henry Lewis Mencken