British Courts

British law is divided into two parts — civil and criminal. There are also two types of courts — dealing with civil jurisdiction and the other, with crim­inal jurisdiction. The law of Britain distinguishes offences into main cate­gories: a) indictable offences and b) non-indictable offences. Indictable offences are the more serious crimes, which must be tried before a jury. Non-indictable offences are all the rest and they are tried by the Magistrates’ Court. However, nowadays there are many offences which may ei­ther be treated on indictment by a jury or by a Magistrates’ Court. When a person is brought before the magistrates’ Court charged with one of the overlapping offences, the court may in many cases treat the charge as be­ing for a non-indictable offence.

The principal courts of ordinary criminal Jurisdiction in England and Wales include:

a) Magistrates’ Courts, which try the less serious offences and conduct preliminary inquiries into the more serious offences. They are presided over by Justices of the Peace;

b) Quarter Sessions which take place at least four times a year. They deal with more serious offences and are presided over either by a legally qualified chairman with a group of magistrates or by a single lawyer;

c) Assizes which are branches of the High Court and are presided over by High Court Judges. They deal with the most serious offences and cases presenting special difficulties.

ВАРИАНТ III

Перепишите и письменно переведите следующие предложения, принимая во внимание, что инфинитив в функции определения и особенно Complex Object и Complex Subject часто соответствуют придаточным предложениям.

1. It’s high time for you to pull yourself together 2. I want you to inform me about the trial. 3. The judge made the witness tell the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. 4. Mr. Smith seems to be absent minded. 5. They said to have considered the verdict. 6. His sons are likely to have already served in the Army. 7. A Court is considered to be a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or by a magistrate.