Judicial System of the Russian Federation

1. In all legal systems there are institutions for interpreting and applying the law. Usually these take the form of a hierarchy of courts as a branch of government established to administer justice. The role of each court and its capacity to make decisions is strictly defined in relation to other courts. There are two main reasons for having a variety of courts. One is that a particular court can specialize in particular kinds of legal actions (for example, civil courts). The other is that a person who feels his case was not fairly tried in a lower court can appeal to a higher court for reassessment. The decisions of a higher court are binding upon lower courts.

2. The structure of our judicial system and the sphere of activities of its various parts are determined by the Constitution and federal constitutional laws. There are three main elements within this system: the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Higher Arbitration Court.

3. The Constitutional Court of the RF considers cases relating to the compliance of the federal laws and normative acts with the country’s Constitution. At the same time there is a separate system of the constitutional courts of the republics and other subjects of the Federation.

4. The Higher Arbitration Court is the supreme judicial body within the system of courts competent to settle economic disputes. The basic judicial organs in that system are arbitration courts of the subjects of the Federation.

5. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body of the four-level system of courts of general jurisdiction: civil, criminal, administrative and military cases. Lower courts are district, city and regional courts. The activity of all these courts may be classified as follows: a court of trial, a court of appeal, a court of cassation. After the reinstatement of the Justices of the Peace in 2000 magistrate’s courts have become an integral part of the system of courts of general jurisdiction at the local level.

6. Each court has its staff which usually consists of legally qualified judges, clerks and bailiffs. The participants of the legal procedure may be the following: a plaintiff – the partybringing a lawsuit, a defendant – a party being sued, a jury – a group of ordinary people summoned to pass a verdict, a prosecutor - the lawyer for the plaintiff in a criminal case, an advocate - a lawyer for defence, witnesses - people who give testimony, experts - they express their own opinions.

7. Judge is a public officer chosen or elected to preside over a court of justice; one who controls the proceedings in a courtroom and decides questions of law.

8. There are two types of judges: trial court and appellate ones. Trial court judges preside over court examinations, usually from beginning to end. They set the trial schedule, control the behavior of participants, advise the jury of the law in a jury trial, and pronounce a judgment in a case.

9. Appellate judges hear appeals from decisions of the trial courts. They review trial court records, read briefs submitted by the parties, and listen to oral arguments by lawyers, and then decide whether error or injustice occurred in the trial.

3.3. Найдите в тексте и выпишите из него случаи употребления:

1) сочинительных союзов в простых предложениях;

2) сочинительных союзов в сложносочинённых предложениях;

3) подчинительных союзов;

4) бессоюзного подчинения.

3.4. Подготовьте контрольное чтение и устный перевод текста.

3.5. Подготовьтесь к собеседованию по тексту на основе следующих вопросов:

1. What does the judiciary administer?

2. What are the reasons for having a variety of courts?

3. What is the legal basis for the activities of our judicial system?

4. What does the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court cover?

5. What is the highest tribunal in the system of general jurisdiction courts?

6. How can courts of general jurisdiction be classified?

7. What courts deal with economic issues?

8. What is a typical composition of a trial court?

9. Who participates in legal procedures?

3.6. Завершите начатое предложение, опираясь на содержание прочи­танного текста.

1. A hierarchy of courts is established ….

2. There is a separate system of the constitutional courts ….

3. Courts of general jurisdiction deal with ….

4. Witnesses are people who ….

5. Judges are chosen to preside ….

3.7. Установите, соответствуют ли данные утверждения содержанию прочитанного текста:

1. There are four main components within the judicial system of the Russian Federation.

2. The republics and other subjects of the Federation have a separate system of local courts.

3. The Justices of the Peace were established in 2005 for the first time in the history of our country.

4. There are four main types of judges.