Тема 17.2. Типы судов и юридических профессий в Республике Беларусь

Грамматическая тема: Структуры “I wish, had better, would rather”

 

Study the words and the word-combinations.

 

to resolve cases – принимать решения по судебным делам

people’s assessors – народные заседатели

district – район, округ

courts of first and second instances – суды первой и второй судебных инстанций

to return a verdict – выносить (провозглашать) вердикт (решение)

to agree upon a verdict – прийти к согласию в вопросе о вердикте

counsel for the defence – адвокат, защитник

counsel for the prosecution – обвинитель, прокурор

investigator – следователь

chairman – председатель

trial – суд, судебный процесс

conduct – вести (дела)

presume innocence – считать невиновным

on the consent of – с согласия

legal adviser – консультант

 

1..Read the text.

The Judicial System of the Republic of Belarus. Legal professions in Belarus

Belorussian courts are judicial organs of government, which resolve disputes of civil and criminal cases on the territory of Belarus. The Constitution of Belarus provides the system of election of judges and People’s assessors and the collective order of trying criminal and civil cases in courts.

In general the court system is divided into 3 stages – district (municipal) People’s courts, regional courts and Minsk city court and the highest one – the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus. It is the highest appellate court in our country. It is headed by the Chairman who is appointed by the President on the consent of the Counsel of the Republic.

Criminal and civil courts are distinguished as courts of first and second instances. Courts of first instance pronounce verdicts in criminal cases and pass judgement in civil cases after trial.

Courts of second instance are courts of cassation and can control the legality and justification of verdicts or judgement pronounced by courts of first instance.

In national economy lawyers are entrusted the control on the legality of orders and instructions issued by government body: they participate in drawing up different agreements and contracts, which are concluded with other enterprises; lawyers also inform workers on the current legislation and give help in legal matters, conduct their cases in courts. So you may work as a judge, an advocate, a counsel for the defence, public prosecutor, procurator, notary, investigator, and legal adviser.

In addition to this professional group there are non-professional legal counselors who give advice on various legal problems and are often employed by business firms.

All lawyers in our country are incorporated either in the national or regional bar. Members of the bar work at legal advisory offices, which function in every town administrative district.

All our citizens are equal before the law. Judges are elected for a term of 5 years. Not only professional lawyers but also the representatives of the population hear all criminal and civil cases having equal authority.

The defendants are guaranteed the right to defence. Proceedings of all courts are open. All people before the court are presumed innocent, until the court, having observed all procedural guarantees, finds them guilty. Only then is the sentence pronounced. An appeal can be made against the ruling to a higher court, right up to the Supreme Court.

 

II. Answer the questions:

 

1) Belorussian courts are judicial organs of government, aren’t they? 2) What does the Constitution of Belarus provide? 3) How many stages is the court system divided into? 4) What are they? 5) What is the highest appellate court in our country? 6) What is it headed by? 7) What do courts of first instance pronounce? 8) What do courts of cassation control? 9) What may lawyers work as? 10) What problems do non-professional legal counselors give advice on? 11) What are all lawyers in our country incorporated in? 12) Are proceedings of all courts open?

 

III. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

 

1) Belorussian courts are judicial organs of government. 2) They resolve disputes of civil cases. 3) The Constitution of Belarus doesn’t provide the system of election of judges and People’s assessors. 4) The court system is divided into 4 stages. 5) Criminal and civil courts are distinguished as courts of second and third instances. 6) Courts of first instance are courts of cassation. 7) Lawyers give help in legal matters, conduct their cases in courts. 8) There are non-professional legal counselors who give advice on various legal problems. 9) They can’t be employed by business firms. 10) All our citizens are equal before the law. 11) Judges are elected for a term of 6 years.

 

Ex.IV. Restore the word order in the following statements:

 

1) Government, organs, belorussian, are, courts, judicial, of. 2) by, is, who, the Chairman, the President appointed. 3) Of Belarus, court, the Supreme, is, Court Republic the highest, of the. 4) on the, current, lawyers, legislation, help, in legal, workers, also, inform, give, and, matters. 5) of the bar, advisory, work, offices, legal, members, at. 6) All, our,are, either, in the incorporated, national, country, or, regional, bar, lawyers, in.

 

V. Complete the following statements:

 

1) Belorussian courts are… 2) They resolve… 3) The Constitution of Belarus provides… 4) In general the court system is divided into … 5) The Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus is… 6) It is headed by… 7) Criminal and civil courts are distinguished as… 8) Courts of first instance … 9) Courts of second instance are… 10) In national economy lawyers are… 11) In addition to this professional group there are… 12) All lawyers in our country … 13) All our citizens are… 14) The defendants are guaranteed … 15) All people before the court are…

 

VI. Retell the text “Legal professions in Belarus”.

 

 

Тема 17.3. Суд присяжных.

Грамматическая тема: Структуры: “I wish, had better, would rather”.

 

Study the words and the word-combinations.

 

laymen - неспециалисты

at random -наугад

deliberate – обдумывать

in secrecy - тайно

reach a decision - прийти к решению

reliance - зависимость

incompetent – некомпетентный

amateur – дилетант

administration of justice - отправление правосудия

jurisdiction - судебная практика

exempt – исключать

excuse - освобождать от обязанности

undue - чрезмерный

hardship - неудобство

commitment – передача

moderate - смягчать

elaborate - тщательно разработанный

screening – отбор

voir dire - допрос судом присяжного на предмет выяснения его беспристрастности и непредубежденности

trial counsel - адвокат, выступающий в суде

challenge for cause - отвод по конкретному основанию

likelihood – вероятность

bias – предубеждение

peremptory challenge - отвод без указания причины

hung jury - состав присяжных, не пришедший к единому мнению

mistrial - судебный процесс без единодушного решения присяжных

 

1..Read the text.

Jury

 

Jury is a group of laymen who participate in deciding cases brought to trial. These laymen are recruited at random from the widest population for the trial of a particular case. They are allowed to deliberate in secrecy, to reach a decision, and to make it public without giving reasons. Throughout its history, it has been both overpraised as a charter of liberty and overcriticized as a reliance on incompetent amateurs in the administration of justice. Most jurisdictions exempt some groups from jury service: police officers, lawyers and doctors. All jurisdictions excuse jurors if the service imposes undue hardship. The commitment of important decisions to a random group of laypersons are moderated by an elaborate screening, voir dire, which is conducted by trial counsel before a trial. The law permits counsel to challenge prospective jurors either for cause (challenge for cause), if there is specific likelihood of bias or, for a limited number, to challenge them without having to give a reason (peremptory challenge). Criminal cases are brought by the state against a person or persons accused of having committed a crime. The state is called the plaintiff; the accused person is called the defendant. The charge against the defendant is called a complaint. The defendant pleads not guilty and the jury should presume the defendant's innocence throughout the entire trial unless the plaintiff proves that the defendant is guilty. In criminal cases the verdict must be unanimous, that is, all jurors (traditionally 12) must agree that the defendant is guilty in order to overcome the presumption of innocence. When they cannot agree on a verdict (termed a hung jury in the United States), the judge declares a mistrial, which means the case must be tried anew.

 

II.. Restore the word order in the questions and answer them:

 

1) Who in deciding cases brought to trial participates? 2) Who recruited at random from the is widest population for the trial of a particular case? 3) Who allowed to deliberate in secrecy, to reach a decision, is and to make it public without giving reasons? 4) Was jury as a charter of liberty overpraised? 5) Was jury as a reliance on incompetent amateurs in the administration of justice overcriticized? 6) What groups of people exempted from jury service are? 7) What conducted by trial counsel before a trial is? 8) What meant is by the term “challenge for cause”? 9) What meant is by the term “peremptory challenge”? 10) What cases are by the state against persons accused of having committed a crime brought? 11) Who is the plaintiff called? 12) Who is the defendant called? 13) What called is a complaint? 14) What the jury should presume if the defendant pleads not guilty? 15) What verdict be in criminal cases must? 16) What is by the term “unanimous” meant? 17) When the judge declare a mistrial does? 18) What is by the term “mistrial” meant?

 

III. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

 

1) Jury is a group of professionals. 2) These laymen do not participate in deciding cases brought to trial. 3) These laymen are selected at random. 4) These laymen are not allowed to deliberate in secrecy. 5) These laymen reach a decision secretly. 6) These laymen make their decision public. 7) Jury is overpraised as a charter of democracy. 8) Jury is overcriticized as a reliance on competent professionals in the administration of justice. 9) Most jurisdictions exempt amateurs from jury service. 10) All jurisdictions don’t excuse jurors if the service imposes undue hardship. 11) The law permits counsel to challenge probable jurors for cause. 12) The law permits counsel to challenge suppositional jurors without giving a reason.

 

Ex.IV. Restore the word order in the following statements:

 

1) Jury a group of laymen is. 2) These laymen in deciding cases brought to trial participate. 3) These laymen recruited at random are. 4) These laymen are to deliberate in secrecy allowed. 5) These laymen are allowed to a decision reach. 6) These laymen their decision public without giving reasons are allowed to make. 7) Jury is as a charter of liberty overpraised. 8) Jury is as a reliance on incompetent amateurs in the administration of justice overcriticized. 9) Most jurisdictions police officers from jury service exempt. 10) All jurisdictions jurors if the service imposes undue hardship excuse. 11) The law counsel to challenge prospective jurors for cause permits. 12) The law counsel to challenge prospective jurors without giving a permits reason.

 

V. Translate the following words and phrases from Russian into English:

 

Неспециалисты; наугад; обдумывать; тайно; прийти к решению; зависимость; передача; смягчать; тщательно разработанный; отбор; говорить правду; адвокат, выступающий в суде; отвод по конкретному основанию; вероятность; предубеждение; отвод без указания причины; состав присяжных, не пришедший к единому мнению; отправление правосудия; судебная практика; исключать; освобождать от обязанности; чрезмерный; неудобство; судебный процесс без единодушного решения присяжных.

 

VI. Complete the following statements:

 

1) Jury is … 2) These laymen are recruited … 3) These laymen are allowed … 4) Jury is overpraised as … 5) Jury is overcriticized as … 6) Most jurisdictions exempt … from jury service. 7) All jurisdictions excuse jurors if … 8) Voir dire is conducted by … 9) The law permits counsel to challenge … 10) Criminal cases are brought by … against … 11) The state is called … 12) The accused person is called … 13) The charge against the defendant is called … 14) The defendant pleads … 15) The jury should presume … 16) In criminal cases the verdict must be … 17) All jurors must agree … 18) The judge declares a mistrial when …

VII. Choose one topic to speak about jury: a) its selection; b) its challenge for cause; c) its peremptory challenge; d) its verdict. Retell the text “ Jury”.

 

 

Структура: “I wish”

В дополнительных придаточных предложениях, зависящих от глагола wish, употребляются формы сослагательного наклонения.

1. Если действие, выраженное сказуемым дополнительного придаточного предложения, выражает сожаление о настоящем, то глагол-сказуемое употребляется в Past Simple or Past Continuous. Также может употребляться сочетание: could + инфинитив.

Глагол to be употребляется в форме сослагательного наклонения were (был бы, была бы, были бы) для всех лиц единственного и множественного числа.

I wish he were here now. — Хотелось бы, чтобы он был здесь. (Жаль, что его нет здесь сейчас).

I wish it were not raining now. — Хотелось бы, чтобы сейчас не шел дождь. (Жаль, что сейчас идет дождь).

I wish I could speak French. — Жаль, что я не могу говорить по-французски.

2. Если действие, выраженное сказуемым дополнительного придаточного предложения выражает сожаление о прошедшем времени, о том, что случилось или не случилось в прошлом, то глагол-сказуемое употребляется в Past Perfect.

I wish you had had time then. — Хотелось бы, что бы у вас тогда было время. Жаль, что у вас тогда не было времени.

I wish I had known that Ann was ill. — Жаль, что я не знал, что Анна была больна.

3. Если действие, выраженное сказуемым дополнительного придаточного предложения выражает желание, но отсутствием возможности изменить что-либо в настоящем или в будущем, то глагол-сказуемое употребляется в форме would + инфинитив без to.

I wish he would stop lying. — Жаль, что он не прекратит лгать. Хотелось бы, чтобы он прекратил лгать. (Я не думаю, что в будущем он прекратит лгать.)

EXERCISES

 

Exercise 1. Раскройте скобки, употребляя требующуюся форму сослагательного наклонения после ‘I wish”:

 

1) I wish I (to have) a season ticket to the Philharmonic next winter. 2) I wish I (to consult) the teacher when I first felt that mathematics was too difficult for me. 3) I love sunny weather. I wish it (to be) warm and fine all the year round. 4) I wish I (not to lend) Nick my watch: he has broken it. 5) I wish you (to send) word as soon as you arrive. 6) I wish I (not to have) to do my homework every day. 7) I wish you (to go) skiing with me yesterday: I had such a good time! 8) I wish I (to know) Spanish. 9) I wish I (not to drink) so much coffee in the evening: I could not sleep half the night. 10) I wish you (to read) more in future.

 

Exercise 2. Раскройте скобки, употребляя требующуюся форму сослагательного наклонения после ‘had better, would rather”:

 

1) I (live) in the South than in the North. 2) He looks upset. You (speak) to him about his problem. 3) You (work) harder. Luck is changeable. 4) You (be) more conscious about your future. 5) I (become) a teacher than a doctor. 6) I (to leave) on an earlier train, I want to be there in time. 7) I thought I (give) you a call first. 8) You (go) home and have some rest. 9) I think, I (drink) some juice than water. 10) It’s going to rain. You (take) your umbrella with you. 11) I (go) to the library today than tomorrow. 12) You (make) your decision now. It might be late tomorrow.

Exercise 3. Переведите на английский язык, употребляя «I wish”:

 

1) А.. Жаль, что он такой легкомысленный.

В. Жаль, что он достаточно серьезен.

 

2) А. Я теперь жалею, что не послушал его совета.

В. Я теперь жалею, что последовал его совету.

 

3) А. Жаль, что вы пришли так поздно.

В. Жаль, что вы не пришли пораньше.

 

4) А. Обидно, что мы ушли до его прихода.

В. Обидно, что мы не дождались его прихода.

 

5) А. К сожалению, они еще ничего не знают.

В. К сожалению, они уже знают об этом.