Ex. 1. Match the terms with their definitions

law, court, courtroom,tribunal, judiciary, justice,the Magistrate's Court,Lord Chancellor,the House of Lords, theSupreme court,the Court of Appeal, The Supreme Arbitration Court

1) place where legal cases are held;

2) a system of courts of law;

3) a British officer of state who presides over the House of Lords in both its legislative and judicial capacities, serves as the head of the British judiciary;

4) a room in which a court of law is held;

5) the administration of law; esp.: the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity;

6) a court hearing appeals from the decisions of lower courts;

7) a court or forum of justice;

8) the upper chamber of the British Parliament composed of the lords temporal and spiritual;

9) a court that has minor civil or criminal jurisdiction;

10) the highest judicial tribunal in a political unit (as a nation or state);

11) a court hearing and determining cases in controversy by arbiters;

12) a rule or order that is advisable or obligatory to observe.

Ex. 2. Every jurisdiction organizes the administration of justice in different ways. In England, the basic division between criminal and civil law is reflected in the court system. Look at the chart below and then complete the description that refers to each court.

1. Claims of lesser value will start in a County Court. There are 250 of these around the country. They can also deal with divorce and bankruptcy matters.

2. Matters of important legal dispute arising in the Crown Court may be appealed to the______________.

3. From the Court of Appeal, there can be an appeal to the ______________on fact or law, but usually appeal is only allowed on matters of legal importance.

4. If the case involves a serious crime, it is heard in the ______________(there is only one______________but it has about 70 centres around the jurisdiction).

5. In less serious criminal cases (which comprise over 90% of criminal cases), the case is sent for trial in one of over 400 ______________.

6. More substantial civil claims (over around £25,000) are heard in the______________.

7. The______________was set up under the Treaty of Rome of 1957, by which the European Community was established. The court can overrule all other courts on matters of Community law.

8. Under the system of appeals in civil cases, it is possible to appeal from a County Court or the High Court to the______________.