The court system of England and Wales

The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magistrates’ court. There are 700 magistrates’ courts and about 30, 000 magistrates.

More serious criminal cases then go to the Crown Court, which has 90 branches in different towns and cities. Civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy cases) are dealt with in Country courts.

Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates’ courts are heard in the Crown Court. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is the House of Lords. (Scotland has its own High Court in Edinburgh, which hears all appeals from Scottish courts.) Certain cases may be referred to the European Courts of Justice in Luxembourg.

The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and coroners’ courts (which investigate violet, sudden or unnatural deaths). There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with disputes between individuals and disputes between individuals and government departments (for example, over taxation).

New vocabulary:

case – судебное дело

country court – суд графства

court of appeal – апелляционный суд

European Court of Justice – Европейский суд

juvenile court – суд по делам несовершеннолетних

violent – насильственный

coroners’ court – суд, рассматривающий дела о насильственной смерти

to make a decision – принимать решение

fair – справедливый

taxation - налогообложение

Ex.4.: Приведите 2-3 примера различных правонарушений и скажите, в каких судах они должны рассматриваться. Обоснуйте вашу точку зрения.

Ex.5.: Выучите следующие слова и выражения.

a barrister – адвокат, выступающий в суде

a solicitor – поверенный

a judge – судья

advocacy – адвокатура

to examine the case – изучить дело

litigation – тяжба, гражданское дело

to rely on – полагаться на

Поставьте, где нужно, частицу to перед инфинитивом:

1. I think you ought … apologize. 2. Make him … speak louder. 3. Help me … carry this bag. 4. My son asked me … let him … go to the theatre. 5. I must...go to the country. 6. It cannot … done today. 7. She asked me …read the letter carefully and … write an answer. 8. The man told me not … walk on the grass. 9. Let me … help you with your work. 10. She ought … take care of her health. 11. We had better … stop to rest a little. 12. I don’t know what …. Do. 13. He was seen … leave the house. 14. We have come … ask whether there is anything we can … do. 15. We heard the siren … sound and saw the ship … move. 16. I cannot …. go there now, I haven’t some work. 17.During the crossing the passengers felt the ship … toss.