Vocabulary Notes to text

1. treason – державна зрада

2. solemn procedure — офіційна процедура (яка задовольняє всі формальні вимоги)

3. indictment – обвинувачувальний акт

4. lay justices of the peace — мирові судді

5. ex officio — лат. – за посадою, в силу зайнятої посади

1. Read the text "Courts in Northern Ireland" and make comments on it. Courts in Northern Ireland

The structure of Northern Ireland courts is broadly similar to that in England and Wales. The day-to-day work of dealing summarily with minor cases is carried out by magistrates' courts presided over by a full-time, legally qualified resident magistrate. Young offenders under 17 and young people under 17 who need care, protection and control are dealt with by juvenile courts consisting of the resident magistrate and two lay members (at least one of whom must be a woman) specially qualified to deal with juveniles. Appeals from magistrates' courts are heard by the county court.

The Crown Court deals with criminal trials on indictment. It is served by High Court and county court judges. Proceedings are heard before a single judge, and all contested cases other than those involving offences specified under emergency legislation take place before a jury. Appeals from the Crown Court against conviction or sentence are heard by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal. Procedures for a further appeal to the House of Lords are similar to those in England and Wales.

Commentary and Notes to the text

1. to deal summarily – спрощений розгляд

2. resident magistrate – мировий суддя з місцевих жителів

3. lay members — члени суду, що не є юристами

4. contested case — спірна справа

5. emergency legislation — надзвичайне законодавство

1. Read the text "Coroner's Courts" and make its synopsis in Ukrainian. Coroner's Courts

Coroners investigate violent and unnatural deaths or sudden deaths where the cause is unknown. Deaths may be reported to the local coroner (who is either medically or legally qualified, or both) by doctors, the police, the registrar, various public authorities or members of the public. If the death is sudden and the cause unknown, the coroner need not hold an inquest if, after a post-mortem examination has been made, he or she is satisfied that the death was due to natural causes.

Where there is reason to believe that the deceased died a violent or unnatural death or died in prison or in other specified circumstances, the coroner must hold an inquest and it is the duty of the coroner's court to establish how, when and where the deceased died. A coroner may sit alone, or in certain circumstances, with a jury. In Scotland the local procurator fiscal inquires privately into all sudden and suspicious deaths and may report the findings to the Crown Office. In a minority of cases a fatal accident inquiry may be held before the sheriff. For certain categories (such as deaths in custody) a fatal accident inquiry is mandatory. In addition, the Lord Advocate has discretion to instruct an inquiry in the public interest in cases where the circumstances give rise to public concern.