Сборник текстов для перевода. Борисова Л.А. - 11 стр.

       Those jurors who have not been challenged become the jury for the case.
There may be six or twelve of them. The judge may also allow selection of one
or more alternate jurors, who will serve if one of the jurors is unable to do so be-
cause of illness or some other reason.
       Then the lawyers for each side will discuss their view of the case in their
opening statements. After that the parties present evidence, which include the
testimony of witnesses, physical exhibits, etc. Sometimes the judge orders testi-
mony to be stricken off the record and it is not considered evidence.
Many times during the trial the lawyers may make objections to evidence pre-
sented by the other side or to questions asked by the other lawyer. If the objec-
tion was valid, the judge will sustain the objection. If the objection was not
valid, the judge will overrule the objection.
       In the closing arguments the lawyers summarize the case from their point
of view. They may discuss the evidence or comment on the credibility of wit-
nesses.
       Then the jury retires to the jury room to conduct the deliberations on the
verdict in the case they have just heard. The jury first elects a foreman. When a
verdict has been reached, the foreman signs it and informs the bailiff. The jury
returns to the courtroom, where the foreman presents the verdict.


                                         TEXT 8

                                   The Crown Court

       The system of sending royal judges out into the country on “general gaol
delivery” and the holding of assizes (sittings of the court) lasted many hundred
of years. Until recently there were two different courts where defendants in
criminal charges could be tried: the more serious charges were heard at the As-
sizes while the less grave were tried at Quarter Sessions (so called because the
court sat at least once every quarter).
       After very many years it became clear that the system had become out-
dated, for example, shifting populations had distorted the patterns of work and
poor use was made of judges’ time and court buildings. The report of the Beech-
ing Commission led to the Courts Act 1971, which came into force on 1 January
1972. This Act created a new criminal court of first-instance jurisdiction, the
Crown Court, which is part of the Supreme Court and sits with a judge and jury.
The composition of the Crown Court is also governed by the Supreme Court Act
1981 and by the Crown Court Rules made under the statute.
       This court tries all serious criminal charges and sits throughout England
and Wales. For administrative conveniences, the country is divided into six cir-
cuits: Northern, North Eastern, Midland and Oxford, South Eastern, Western,
and Wales and Chester. Each circuit is under the supervision of a presiding
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