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Read this court pamphlet. Are the following statements
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True or false?
A judge asks potential jurors questions to check if they are
biased.
2. Jurors’ answers are recorded by an employee of the court.
3. Every person that reports for jury duty listens to a trial.
Rules and Expectations
Thank you for reporting for jury duty. The following is a description
of what to expect today.
You will receive a number. Enter the courtroom when the clerk of
the court calls that number.
In the courtroom, have a seat in the jury box. The bailiff will direct
you.
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution will then ask you
questions. A judge presides over the proceedings and the court
reporter records your answers. The goal is to select jurors for a
trial.
It is important that you answer their questions honestly.
This provides the defendant with a fair trial. Potential jurors may
leave after questioning if not selected.
- Match the words (1-6) with the definitions (A-F)
1 clerk of the court
2 court reporter
3 defense
4 prosecution
5 juror
6 bailiff
A the side of a case that attempts to prove innocence
B the side of a case that attempts to prove quilt
C a person who assists a judge
D an officer who keeps order in court
E a person that types everything that is said in court
F a person who listens to a trial and decides if a
defendant is guilty or not
Choose the sentence that uses the underlined parts
Correctly.
1 A The proceedings took place in the courtroom on the
second floor.
B The defense brought the lawsuit against the corporation.
2 A The judge took his seat in the jury box when the trial
started.
B Judge Williams is presiding over the upcoming trial.
3 A Mary isn’t going to be at work because she has jury
duty.
B The bailiff typed the attorney’s words very quickly.
4 A The court reporter sat at the table with her client and
waited for the trial to start.
B The attorney stood close to the jury box as he made his
argument to the jurors.
Listen and read the text again. Say what happens when
You report for jury duty.
Listen to a conversation between a judge and a defense
Attorney. Choose the correct answers.
1 What is the conversation mostly about?
A removing a juror
B questioning a juror
C selecting a new juror
D protesting a juror’s decision
2 What is the judges opinion?
A He thinks young people often commit crimes.
B He plans to release the defendant.
C He doubts the juror would be unfair.
D He agrees with the attorney’s argument.
Listen again and complete the conversation.
Attorney: Your Honor, I don’t believe that 1 _______ four
should sit for this trial.
Judge: For what 2 ______?
Attorney: One of his answers to my questions. He believes that youngpeople are more likely to commit crimes these day Judge: And you’re worried that he will be 3 ______ toward the defendant?
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Attorney: Yes. My client is only seventeen years old.
Judge: The 4 ______ has a point. We’ll release him.
Attorney: Thank you, Your Honor.
Judge: We’ll continue the 5 _______ after the 6 ______of the
court calls in another juror.
Use the conversation from Task 7 to complete the notes
About selecting a jury for a trial.
JURY NOTES
Today, we ______ a juror. I thought he would be ______
I believe this because he ___________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
The judge _______________________________________
and ____________________________________________
________________________________________________
Unit 8
Court Process
- Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
a) What are some things that happen before a case goes to court?
b) Why might a jury not be able to agree on a verdict?
- Listen and read this email between an attorney and his colleague. Choose the correct answers.
1. What is the email about?
A a recent case which has been tried
B the proceedings leading up to a trial
C a new client who has been sentenced
D a court case that ended in a mistrial
2. Which of the following has not yet happened?
A an arraignment
B a request for discovery
C a pre-trial hearing
D a plea bargain
3. What can you infer about the defendant?
A He will be charged with a crime.
B He was acquitted in a previous trial.
C He successfully suppressed evidence before.
D He was offered a lesser sentence to avoid a trial.
Fiona,
I’m writing to update you on the Trindle case. At the arraign-
ment last month, the defendant was charged.
However, he rejected plea bargain. So he will be sentenced or
acquitted at the trial.
Since then, his lawyer has requested discovery. So there will
probably be a pre-trial hearing where the defendant’s lawyer
tries to suppress evidence. You will handle the discovery process and
pre-trial hearing. I ask you to make sure all of the evidence is accep-
ted. I don’t want to hung jury and mistrial because evidence isn’t
shown.
I know we can count on you.
David Wallace, Assistant Prosecutor, City of Los Angeles
Write a word that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.
1. The woman was proven not guilty of the shoplifting charge.
a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d
2. The defense lawyer wants to prevent from being shown some of
the evidence.
_ u _ _ _ _ _ _
3. The prosecutor offered Mr.Tilney a chance to say he was guilty in
return for a lesser charge.
_ _ _ a _ _ r _ _ _ _
4. The defendant’s lawyer has requested information from the other
side concerning the case.
_ _ s _ _ _ _ _ _
Read the sentence pairs. Choose where the words best fit in the
Blanks.
Sentenced / charged
The woman was found guilty and was __________ to two years
in prison.
The man was arrested and _________ with theft.
Trial / arraignment
At the ________ the man was formally charged with the crime.
At the end of the __________ the man was found guilty.
Mistrial / pre-trial hearing
The case resulted in a _________ because some of the evidence
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was false.
The lawyers hope they can solve the problem at a ________.
Listen to an attorney speaking to a colleague on the phone. Decide
If the following statements are true or false.
1 The man is pleased with the results from the pre-trial hearing.
2 The judge will not allow all of the evidence to be shown at the trial.
3 The woman hopes to prosecute the case against the defendant.
Listen again and complete the conversation.
A 1: Hello, Fiona Barksdale speaking.
A 2: Fiona, it’s David. I’m calling about the 1 _____ - _____ _____
yesterday. How did it go?
A 1: It went really well. The judge didn’t 2 ______any evidence.
A 2: That’s good. I was worried when the defense attorney requested
3 _______. When is the 4 ________scheduled for?
A 1: November. We still have some time to prepare.
A 2: Good. I really don’t want this to end in a 5 _______.
A 1: Me neither. In fact, I’d like to 6 ______it myself.
A 2: Good. I think you can win it.
Use the conversation from Task 6 to fill out notes about the pre-
Trial hearing.
Trindle Case – Pre-trial Hearing
Date of Hearing: ______________________________________
Judge’s decision on evidence: ____________________________
Trial scheduled for: _____________________________________
Who will handle case: ___________________________________
Unit 9
Court etiquette
Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
a) Why is it important to behave properly in a courtroom?
b) Where can people find information on court etiquette?
Read the text.
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