Trial by Jury

Exercise 7.3 Read the statements. Are they true or false? Correct the false ones.

1. All the USA’s states follow invariable set of procedures in criminal trial.

2. A bench trial is a trial with judge sitting with petit jury.

3. Jury members are professional lawyers.

4. The trial begins with the opening statement by the defence.

5. A cross-examination is carried out when there is a need to test the truth of what each witness says.

6. The defendant leaves the courtroom when the jury announces the verdict.

7. The jury determines the sentence.

8. If the defendant is found innocent by the jury he is acquitted.

Exercise 7.4 Find the odd word out:

1. Defendant – convict – accused – prosecutor;

2. Defendant – defense counsel – prosecutor – judge – law;

3. Evidence – witness – experts – not guilty;

4. Indictment – verdict – sentence – arrest.

Exercise 7.5 Match the beginning of the sentence with its ending:

1. The function of a trial court is	a) the judge is to determine the sentence.
2. After the opening statements by the prosecutor	b) to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused person.
3. Cross examination includes	c) summarize the case to the jury
4. In closing arguments the two opposing lawyers	d) questioning the defendant/witnesses by the opposing party.
5. After the verdict is announced	e) he presents evidence against the defendant

Exercise 7.6 Insert one of the following words into the text about presumption of innocence in an appropriate way:

innocent, to acquit, guilt, the prosecution, a reasonable doubt, standards

In criminal cases, the defendant is presumed 1) ____ until 2) ____ proves each element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, the law requires the jury 3) ____ the defendant unless it is convinced of the defendant’s guilt beyond 4) _____. The jury in a criminal case may not convict on a finding that the defendant’s 5) ____ is more likely than not. On the other hand, the law does not require absolute certainty. The standard for determining guilt is somewhere in between these two 6) ____ of proof.

Exercise 7.7 Put each of the following words and phrases into its correct place in the passage below:

accused court judge legislature panel trial

acquit cross-examination jurors list sentence witnesses

civil suits fault jury money swear

counsel guilty legal disputes officer testimony

A jury is a selected group of laymen that hears the 1) _____ in 2) ____ and decides the facts. A courtroom trial in which a 3) _____ decides the fact is called a 4) ____ by jury.

Before each 5) _____ term, a jury commissioner or another public 6) _____ prepares a panel, or large initial 7) ____ of qualified jurors. For each trial, 8) _____ are selected by lot from this 9) _____.

Before the trial begins, the jurors 10) ____ to decide the facts fairly. They hear the 11) ____ given by witnesses for both sides, including 12) ____. Then 13) _____ for each side sum up, or summarize the case, and the 14) ______ explains the applicable law in his instructions to the jury.

In 15) ____ for financial damages, the jury must decide who is at 16) _____ and must determine the amount of 17) _____ to be paid. In criminal cases, the jury must decide whether or not the 18) _____ is guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt”, and then either return a verdict of guilty, or 19) ____ the defendant by a verdict of not guilty. If the verdict is 20) _____ the judge imposes the 21) _____ or punishment, within limits that have been fixed by the 22) ____.

Exercise 7.8 Choose the right answer:

1. Those acting for the defendant propose to appeal ____ the sentence.

a) against b) for c) out d) to

2. The accused man was able to prove his innocence at the trial and was ____.

a) absolved b) acquitted c) forgiven d) pardoned

3. The community was angered by the ____ punishment given their friend.

a) august b) austere c) severe d) vigorous

4. Mr Tipsy was ____ twenty pounds for drinking and driving.

a) charged b) fined c) ordered d) penalized

5. The ringleader was lucky to get ____ a suspended sentence.

a) away b) off with c) through d) through to

6. As it was first offence, the judge gave her a ____ sentence.

a) kind b) lenient c) severe d)tolerant

7. The woman ___ for her husband’s life when he was found guilty of murder.

a) bid b) debated c) disputed d) pleaded

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