Courts and their Functions

Text 3 B

Read the text and answer the following questions.

1. What is the court?

2. What is the function of a court of first instance?

3. What is the function of a court of second instance?

4. What is the role of the Constitutional Court?

5. What are the functions of the Supreme Court?

6. What cases does a district court examine?

7. What other courts are mentioned in the text? What is the role of each court?

The court is the state body that administers justice on behalf of the state.

There are courts of first and second instance.

A court of first instance examines the case and brings in a sentence or decision. Any court, from the district court to the Supreme Court may sit as a court of first instance.

A court of second instance examines appeals against sentences of courts of first instance.

The Constitutional Court is the highest judicial body which examines cases relating to the compliance of the federal laws and normative acts with the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It consists of 19 judges who are appointed by the President and approved by the Council of the Federation. Since June 2008 the Constitutional Court has been located in St Petersburg.

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body of the Russian Federation for civil, criminal, administrative and other cases. It exercises judicial supervision over the activities of courts of general jurisdiction, including military courts. It tries the most important criminal and civil cases and hears appeals against the judgements and sentences of other courts.

The District court examines cases as a court of first and second instance. It tries criminal and civil cases. It is also the duty of the district courts to protect the electoral rights of citizens. As courts of appeal, district courts examine appeals from justices of the peace.

Justices of the peace are professional judges, with the same status and responsibilities as other federal judges. They handle small civil disputes, petty administrative and criminal offences. Appeals against decisions of justices of the peace are examined by district courts, the decisions of which are final.

Military courts are established on the basis of the territorial principle at the place of location of troops and fleets. Military courts examine cases as a court of first and second instance.

The Supreme Arbitration Court is the highest judicial body of the Russian Federation which handles economic suits. Judges for these courts are appointed by the President and approved by the Council of the Federation.
The Arbitration Appellate Court examines cases as a court of appeals instance for newly discovered circumstances.

Examination of cases in all courts is open.

Courts decide what really happened and what should be done about it. They decide whether a person committed a crime and what the punishment should be. They also provide a peaceful way to decide private disputes that people can’t resolve themselves.

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