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used to say. And in the evening they were having long and interesting talks. In their talks they often touched
their professional subjects. And the longer they talked the more things they wanted to discuss. One of these
evenings Steve told them about English law and English judicial system. Would you like to listen to his story?
There are three separate systems of law in the United Kingdom: the legal systems and law courts of 1.
England and Wales; 2. Scotland; 3. Northern Ireland. However, there are some common features to all systems
in the United Kingdom: the sources of law, the distinction between civil law and criminal law. The sources of
law include: 1. written law (i. e. statutes); 2. unwritten law (i. e. Common law and Equity) based on judicial
precedent. We also call the common law as «case law» or «judge-made» law. It means that when one judge had
decided a point of law, any judge who has the similar set of facts must decide the case in the same way as in the
earlier judgement. In other words, the judge uses the process of analogy. And it is in this way that the
generations of judges have built up the Common law. The structure of courts in England and Wales looks like
this. (And Steve drew such scheme of court system.)
HOUSE OF LORDS
COURT OF APPEAL
COURT OF APPEAL
CRIMINAL
CIVIL DIVISION
CROWN COURTS
HIGH COURT
Judge
1—3 judges
2 Magistrates
COUNTY COURT
Jury
Judge and Jury
MAGISTRATES' COURT
MAGISTRATES' COURT
3 Magistrates or
3 Magistrates 
1 Stipendiary Magistrate
Criminal                       
Civil
It is the Magistrates' Courts (sometimes called police courts) that try the majority of all criminal cases and
some civil cases. Magistrates' courts are presided over by lay magistrates (also called justices of the peace —
J.P.s)who work part-time and are unpaid. The courts consist of between 2 and 7 magistrates. In a few large
cities there are also stipendiary magistrates who sit alone and have legal training. County courts are the main
civil courts and the Crown Court deals with all the more serious criminal
cases. It also hears appeals from
magistrates' courts. The accused has the right to trial by jury. There is the Central Criminal Court in London
(the Old Bailey). The High Court hears all those civil cases that cannot be decided by county courts. The Court
of Appeal hears both criminal and civil appeals and the House of Lords is the final appellate tribunal. The
judges in the House of Lords are the ten «Lords of Appeal in Ordinary» (the «law lords»).
14.3.4. Предположим, что вы следователь. Утверждения подозреваемого не согласуются с фак-
тами, имеющимися в вашем распоряжении. Уличите его, сообщая ему эти факты. (Используйте
конструкцию «It is ... that ...».)
Model: S. I came home at 10.
I. It was at 11.30 when you came.
1. I met her yesterday at that time.
2. I was at home at that time.
3. First I went to the cinema.
4. I usually take 6.30 train.
5. I think I saw John there.
6. I'm to meet him tomorrow at 6.
7. I only took 10 roubles.
8. Tommy told me about this flat.
14.3.5. В тексте есть несколько предложений с конструкцией «It is ... that». Найдите их и
переведите.
14.3.6. Используя усилительную конструкцию, охарактеризуйте в 2-3 предложениях вашего
партнера. Model: It's the sweets that she likes most of all.
14.3.7. Нелли не очень хорошо поняла рассказ Стива. Пытаясь пересказать его своим коллегам на
работе, она сделала несколько ошибок. Поправьте ее ошибочные утверждения с помощью конструкции
«It is ... that ...».
1. Written law is the only source of English law.
2. The English judges only use statutes in trying cases.
3. The High Court tries the majority of all criminal cases.
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