Unit III THE COURT SYSTEM OF ENGLAND AND WALES TASK 1. Read the text and examine the chart
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 County courts.
Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates'
courts are heard in the Crown Court, unless they are appeals on points of law.
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 Court of
Justice in Luxembourg. In addition, individuals have made the British
Government change its practices in a number of areas as a result of petitions
to the European Court of Human Rights.
The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders
under seventeen) and coroners' courts (which investigate violent, sudden or
unnatural deaths). There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap
and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with professional
standards, disputes between individuals, and disputes between individuals and
government departments (for example, over taxation).
The legal system in England and Wales
(The system in Northern Ireland is similar, but the system in Scotland is
quite different and separate)
The House of Lords 3 law Lords
Criminal courts
Civil court
Court of Appeal 1-3 judges, no jury
Hight Court 1-3 judges, no jury
Country Courts 1 judge, no jury
Crown Court 1 judge + jury
Magistrates' Court 3 magistrates, no jury
TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words
below
общее право;
решение суда;
уголовный кодекс;
гражданский кодекс;
мировой судья;
Суд Короны;
гражданское дело;
суды графств;
Европейский суд по правам человека;
правовая система;
суд по делам несовершеннолетних;
правонарушитель;
насильственная смерть;
уголовное дело.
TASK 3. Use the information given above to answer
the questions
Who is responsible for making laws in Britain?
In the United Kingdom, what is the difference between criminal and civil
law?
What is the most common type of law court in England and Wales ?
Name three other types of British courts.
TASK 4. Work in pairs and discuss the following.
Which courts do you think would deal with:
a bank robbery?
a divorce case?
a burglary committed by a fifteen-year-old?
a drowing?
a cse of driving too fast?
Київський університет права.
Лабораторія ЦДН Електронна бібліотека КУП