專八人文知識精講(11)：英國法律與司法機(jī)構(gòu)

There is no single legal system in the United Kingdom. A feature common to all systems of law in the United Kingdom is that there is no complete code. The sources of law include (1) statutes; (2) a large amount of "unwritten" or common law; (3) equity law; (4) European Community. Another common feature is the distinction made between criminal law and civil law.

聯(lián)合王國不實(shí)行完全統(tǒng)一的法律制度。聯(lián)合王國所有法律制度的一個共同特點(diǎn)是沒有以部完整的法典。法典來源包括：(1)成文法;(2)大量的"不成文法"或習(xí)慣法;(3)衡平法;(4)歐共體法。另一個共同的特點(diǎn)是刑法和民法之間的區(qū)別。

I.Criminal Proceedings

刑事訴訟程序

1. In England and Wales, once the police have charged a person with a criminal offence, the crown Prosecution Service assumes control of the case reviews the evidence to decide whether to prosecute.

在英格蘭和威爾士，一旦警察指控某人犯有刑事罪，皇家檢察總署就要接管此案，并獨(dú)立地審核證據(jù)以決定是否起訴。

2. In Britain all criminal trial are held in open count because the criminal law presumes the innocence of the accused until he has been proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution and the defense get equal treatment. No accused person has to answer the question of the police before trial. He is not compelled to give evidence in count. Every accused person has the right to employ a legal adviser to conduct his defense. If he can not afford to pay, he may be granted aid at public expense. In criminal trial by jury, the judge passes sentence, but the jury decided the issue of guilt or innocence. The jury composed of 12 or ordinary people. If the verdict of the jury can not be unanimous, it must be a majority.

在英國，所有的刑事審判都在法院公開進(jìn)行。因?yàn)樾谭ㄕJ(rèn)為，在消除合理懷疑證明被告有罪之前，他是無辜的。原告與被告同樣平等，審判時被告不必回答警察的問題，不許強(qiáng)迫被告提供證據(jù)。每位被告都有權(quán)雇傭律師為其辯護(hù)。如果他不能支付律師費(fèi)，可以用公用費(fèi)用提供幫助。在由陪審團(tuán)進(jìn)行的刑事審判中，法官判刑，但陪審團(tuán)決定是否有罪。陪審團(tuán)一般由12人組成。如果陪審團(tuán)不能做出一致判決，也必須是多數(shù)決定。

3.A verdict of " not guilt" means acquittal for the accused, who can never again be charged with that specific crime.

"無罪"裁決意味著被告無罪，并且永遠(yuǎn)不得再以此罪名對其指控。

II. Criminal Courts

刑事法庭

1. Criminal Courts in England and Wales

英格蘭和威爾士的刑事法庭

Magistrates' Courts which try summary offences and "either way" offences. A magistrates' court, which is open to the public and the media, usually consists of three unpaid "lay" magistrates-known as justices of the peace-who are advised on point of law and procedure by a legally qualified assistant. A Magistrates' court sits without a jury.

治安(警事)法庭，負(fù)責(zé)審理判決犯罪，也審理"任意方式"罪行。治安法庭對公眾和媒體公開，通常由三位無薪的"外行"地方官--地方治安官組成，由懂得法律知識的書記員和助手給他們提供法律規(guī)定和程序方面的建議。治安法庭審察時沒有陪審團(tuán)。

Youth Court which try most cases involving people under 18.

青少年法庭，負(fù)責(zé)審理18歲以下青年的大多數(shù)案件。

The Crown Court tries the most serious offences and 'either way" offences referred to it by magistrates. The Crown Court is presided over by High Court judges, full-time circuit Judges and part-time Recorders England and Wales are divided into six circuits for the purpose of hearing criminal case. Each circuit is divided into areas containing one or more centers of High Court and Crown Court.

皇家刑事法庭。負(fù)責(zé)審理最嚴(yán)重的罪行和由地方法官提交的"任意方式"罪行?；始倚淌路ㄍビ筛呒壏ㄔ悍ü?，全職巡回法官和兼任刑事法官主持。為審理刑事案，英格蘭和威爾士被分為六個巡回區(qū)，每個巡回區(qū)又分區(qū)域，每個區(qū)域有一個或多個高級法庭和皇家刑事法庭。

2. Criminal courts in Scotland

蘇格蘭的刑事法庭

There are three criminal courts in Scotland.(1)the High Court of Justiciary;(2) the sheriff court;(3) the district court. Scotland has two types of criminal procedure, know as solemn procedure and summary procedure. In solemn procedure, a defendant is tried by a judge sits without a jury.

蘇格蘭有三種刑事法院：(1)高級法院;(2)郡法院;(3)區(qū)法院。英格蘭有兩種刑事訴訟：莊重訴訟和即決訴訟。莊重訴訟里，被告由陪審團(tuán)和法官審理。在即決訴訟中，法官獨(dú)自審理，不用陪審團(tuán)。

3. Criminal courts in Northern Ireland

北愛爾蘭的刑事法庭

Cases involving minor summary offences are heard by magistrates' courts presided over by a full-time legally qualified resident magistrate. County courts are primarily civil law courts. The Crown Court deals with criminal trails on indictment.

涉及輕微即決犯罪的案件由治安法庭聽審，法庭由全職的法律合格的常駐治安法官主持。郡法庭主要是民事法庭。皇家刑事法庭根據(jù)起訴進(jìn)行刑事審判。

III.Civil Courts

民事法庭

1. Civil Courts in England and Wales

英格蘭和威爾士的民事法庭

Magistrates' Courts have limited civil jurisdiction, The main courts of civil jurisdiction are County Courts, the High Court deals with the more complicated civil case. Its jurisdiction covers mainly civil and some criminal cases. It has three divisions: (1) the family Division; (2) the Chancery Division; (3) the Queen's Bench Division.

治安法庭只有一定的民事審判權(quán)。主要行使民事司法權(quán)的是民事法院，高等法院處理更為復(fù)雜的民事案。主要包括民事案和一些刑事案，高等法院有三個分支：(1)家事庭;(2)大法官庭;(3)王室庭。

2. Civil Courts in Scotland

蘇格蘭的民事法庭

The Civil Courts are the sheriff court and the Court of session.

民事法院包括郡法院和巡回法院(最高中心法院)。

3. Civil Courts in Northern Ireland

北愛爾蘭的民事法院

County Court are primarily civil law courts. The magistrates' court also deal with certain limited classes of civil cases. The high Court of Justice the superior civil law court.

郡法院主要是民事法院。治安法庭也審理某些有限類型的民事案件。高等法院就是高級民事法院。

IV. The Judiciary

司法機(jī)構(gòu)

There is no ministry of justice in the United Kingdom. Central responsibility lies with the Lord Chancellor the Home Secretary and the Attorney General. In England and Wales, lay magistrates are appointed on behalf of the Crown by the Lord Chancellor who is advised by committees in each county. The Lord Chancellor recommends the High Court and circuit judges. The highest judicial appointments and made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

英國沒有司法機(jī)構(gòu)。中央政府的司法工作主要由大法官、內(nèi)政大臣和檢察總長負(fù)責(zé)。在英格蘭和威爾士，大法官根據(jù)各部委員會的建議任命外行人員為治安官。大法官推薦高等法官和巡回法官。最高級別的司法官任命由女王根據(jù)首相的建議做出。

V. Police

警察

The police service for United Kingdom is organized and controlled on a local basis under the Home Secretary and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Secretaries. London's Metropolitan Police Force is directly under the control of Home Secretary. Police officers are not allowed to join a trade union or go on strike. They do not normally carry firearms.

在內(nèi)政大臣和蘇格蘭及北愛爾蘭國務(wù)大臣的指導(dǎo)下，英國警察分地組建，并以地方管理為基礎(chǔ)。但倫敦警察署直接與內(nèi)政大臣管轄。警察不得加入工會或罷工。他們通常不佩帶手槍。

VI. Treatment of offenders

對違法者的處理

The chief aims of the penal system are to deter the potential lawbreaker and to reform the convicted offender.

刑罰制度的主要目的是阻止?jié)撛诘倪`法者，并改造已判的違法者。

Capital punishment ( a sentence of death ) for murder has been abolished in the U.K, through proposal for its reinstatement are regularly debated by Parliament, and it remains the penalty for treason and piracy.

英國已廢除對謀殺罪的死刑，但議會仍經(jīng)常辯論要恢復(fù)死刑，判國罪和海盜罪仍可判死刑。