Exercise 4 Choose the correct form of the verbs.

1. If a person breaks the law he must bring/be brought first before a magistrates» court.

2. A magistrates' court hasthe powerto fine/to be fined people up to 100 pounds.

3. A magistrates' court can also send/be sent people to prison for up to six months.

4. If a case is too serious it sends/is sent to the Crown Court.

5. If there are any appeals they send/are sent to the Court of Appeals.

6. Appeals on very serious cases consider/are considered by the House of

Lords Court of Appeals.

Exercise 6 Answer these questions.

1. Which courts deal with criminal matters?

2. Which courts deal with civil cases?

3. What is the highest court of the United Kingdom?

4. What kinds of cases is a Magistrates’ Court empowered to hear?

5. In which courts are cases decided by a jury? Where not?

6. How are jurors selected?

7. What can you say about the system of appeals?

8. What is the highest Court of Appeals?

9. What is the function of a Clerk of the Court?

тексn :
The Courts in the UK

The Crown Courts deal exclusively with criminal matters, the County

Courts — with civil. However, the Queen's Bench Division of the High

Court considers appeals from lower criminal courts, as well as civil matters, and the Magistrates Courts, while mostly concerned with criminal

cases, also deal with some civil matters. The highest court, the House of

Lords, deals with all matters (including appeals from Scottish and

Northern Irish courts).

A criminal case usually begins in a Magistrates' Court. Each town has a

magistrates' court commonly known as a Police Court. Such courts consist of two to seven magistrates known as justices of the peace. They are

often without legal training and knowledge of the law. In some cases they

are advised by a Clerk of the Court, a trained lawyer. A Magistrates' Court is in session twice each week As the lowest criminal court, a Magistrates'

Court is empowered to hear certain cases only. Some minor cases, such

as parking violations, are dealt with only by the magistrates. Some serious

crimes, like murder, must go to the Crown Courts. And there are some

offences where the defendant is given the choice of having his case heard

in the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court. In the Crown Court, cases

are decided by a jury, that is, ordinary members of the public.

In a Crown Court trial there are twelve jurors. These are ordinary

members of the public between the ages of 18 and 70 who are selected

at random.ѝѝ

A defendant found guilty may appeal to the local Crown Court or to the

Queen's Bench Division. Appeals from the Crown Court go first to the

High Court and, in special cases, to the Court of Appeals.

Members of the House of Lords, the Law Lords only, sit as a court of

appeal, and their decisions on both criminal and civil matters are binding upon all other courts.

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