Clerks of the court

Clerks look after administrative and legal matters in the courtroom.

1. Choose the correct definition for each legal profession mentioned in the text.

(a) an officer acting as a judge in the lower courts.

(b) a public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a law court.

(c) a group of people who swear to give a true decision on issues of in a law court.

(d) an official who investigates the cause of any death thought to be violent or unnatural causes.

(e) a lawyer who has the right to speak and argue in higher law courts.

(f) a lawyer who prepares legal documents, advises clients on legal and speaks for them in lower law courts.

2. Complete the following text choosing from the words in the box:

prosecutor magistrates jury bench clerk judiciary barristers recorders judges

The ____________are perhaps the most prominent amongst those involved in running the court. The largest group of____________are____________, ordinary citizens who are not legal professionals but are appointed to ensure that the local community is involved in the running of the legal system. They sit as a group of three (as a '____________'). Magistrates sit with a legally qualified____________, who can advise on points of law. A case is presented by the____________, who takes over the case from the police who have already charged the defendant (or accused) with specified crimes.

In the upper courts, the judges are almost all former ____________. But many cases are also heard by____________ - part-time barristers from private practice. The Crown Court ____________consists of 12 persons, aged 18 to 70.

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