XI. Explain the italicized grammar constructions in the following sentences.

1. The Crown Court is the higher court, which deals with very serious offences such as murder, manslaughter, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery, which make about 2% of all criminal cases.

2. There are about 90 Crown Court centres, in six regional areas called circuits, with most of them situated in London and the larger towns.

3. The centres are divided into different levels of importance, so that the more serious criminal and civil cases are heard by top-level courts.

4. Innocence or guilt is determined at a trial presided by a judge, with a jury of twelve citizens.

5. The prosecution builds up its case by presenting witnesses.

XII. Form a small group. Think of a problem for criminal/civil courts. Discuss your problem with other students. Unit 7.2 Civil Courts In Great Britain

Read the text to fulfil the tasks.

The civil court structure is two-tiered, just as are criminal courts, and comprises two types of court: High county court and the High Court. The main difference between the two is that most minor claims up to £5,000 can be dealt with in the county court, whereas a range of more expensive and complicated cases are decided in the High Court. Some civil matters can also be heard by High Court judges sitting in the Crown court, and by magistrates in the magistrates' court.

County Courts

England and Wales are now divided into 270 districts with a county court for each district and a county court or circuit judge having responsibility for a number of courts. The county court is presided over by a paid judge, who almost always sits alone, although he may sit with a jury consisting of eight persons, if either party wishes it and the court makes an order to that effect. The judge is assisted by a registrar, who is usually a solicitor. The registrar hears cases and is normally in administrative charge of the court office.

As has been mentioned above, the county court can only deal with relatively minor matters that involve small amounts of money to be awarded. The jurisdiction of the county courts is limited, and covers, for example, actions for the recovery of land; trust and mortgage cases; cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants; complaints about race and sex discrimination, divorce cases and other family affairs. All personal injury cases involving amounts below £50,000 begin in a county court, unless they are of particular importance and complexity. The county courts have a 'small claims' procedure, designed to provide a cheap, informal and speedy means of resolving small disputes, without the need for legal representation. These courts tend to be very busy and have a role equivalent to that of the magistrates' court. Some 90% of all cases are dealt with by the county courts.

High Court

The High Court of Justice as a higher court has its main center in London and branch registries throughout England and Wales. The High Court deals with more complicated civil matters, trying cases involving amounts above £50,000, unless they are so straightforward as not to merit trial in that forum. Its jurisdiction covers mainly civil and some criminal cases, though it also deals with appeals with tribunals and from magistrates’ courts in both civil and criminal matters. It is divided into three divisions, which specialise in specific matters:

• The Queen's Bench Division, which consists of the Lord Chief Justice and 29 other judges and deals with disputes relating to contract and ton cases and claims for the recovery of land and property. Maritime and general commercial matters are the responsibility of the Division's Admiralty and Commercial courts, respectively.

• the Chancery Division, which consists of the Lord Chancellor and seven judges, deals with company law: commercial, financial and succession matters such as individual or corporate insolvency, bankruptcy, trusts, disputes in the running of companies, in intellectual properly matters; the interpretation of trust and contested wills and some other general matters.

• the Family Division, which has a President and seven other judges, is with family law affecting the family and domestic issues such as marriage, divorce, family property, adoption of children and uncontested wills.

In the event of overlapping jurisdiction between the High Court, the county courts and the magistrates' courts, cases of exceptional importance, complexity or financial substance are reserved or transferred for trial to the High Court.

Text-study