Justice

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Justice

Which English words do
you associate with 'justice'?

• the accused

• member of the jury

• defence lawyer

• witness

• plaintiff

• accused

Exercise 1

• Assault: the act of hurting someone physically
• Sentencing: to determine (decide on) the punishment
• He wants to be sequestered so he will get a free hotel room
• He will go to jail (be imprisoned, be locked up)
• His principal will find out he skipped school

Exercise 2

• The American justice system copied much of the British system back when America was still a British colony.
• She would sit next to her lawyer.
• Because plea bargains have become very common (function), the courtroom architects have created space (form) where these bargains can be discussed.

Exercise 3

•  compensation
•  to acquit
•  a barrister
•  the prosecution
•  evidence
•  a unanimous verdict

• The adjective anonymous refers to someone whose name is unknown or unidentified. 
• The adjective unanimous means fully in agreement: sharing the same views or sentiments or having the consent of everyone involved.

Exercise 3

•  to deliberate
•  the district attorney (D.A.)
•  impartiality
•  to raise an objection
•  a conviction

• The word conviction has two meanings: 
• the fact of officially being found to be guilty of a particular crime (to be convicted)
• a strong opinion or belief (to be convinced)

Exercise 3

•  a fine
•  capital punishment / the death penalty
•  mitigating / extenuating circumstances
•  a suspended jail term
•  to plead guilty
•  a plea bargain
•  a charge

If you do not lock the door of your house, you should not complain when a burglary takes place.

1. I agree
2. I do not agree

Environmental crimes should be punished as hard as assault or murder.

1. I agree
2. I do not agree

I completely trust the police and the justice system in my country.

1. I agree
2. I do not agree

Do you think the judge's decision to show Lacy the door was a fair one?

1. Yes, she was misbehaving.
2. No, he didn't have the right to send her out.

What is the worst excuse to use before a divorce lawyer?

1. "Someone might have thrown the underwear into my car while I was driving."
2. "I accidentally bought the wrong size of lingerie at the store."
3. "When I came home and went to bed, I didn't know there was a woman in it."
4. "I'm a man who needs food, sex and silence, and I wasn't getting any of it."

Exercise 5

1.  to acquit
2.  a conviction
3.  a plea
4.  an objection
5.  to testify
6.  a fine
7.  a trial
8.  charges

Select the correct verb:

They [...] charges of rape against him.

1. brought
2. put
3. tried
4. released

Select the correct verb:

The judge [...] a fine on the defendant.

1. rules
2. puts
3. imposes
4. brings

Select the correct preposition:

He will be put [...] trial for murder.

1. at
2. on
3. for
4. in

Select the correct word to end this sentence:
If he is innocent, I'm sure he will be [...]

1. charged
2. objected
3. testified
4. acquitted

Exercise 6

1.  witnesses
2.  evidence
3.  the death penalty
4.  prosecution / DA / plaintiff
5.  charged
6.  verdict / acquittal
7.  law
8.  tried / acquitted
9.  object
10.  prisons / jails

How is the death penalty executed in the United States?

1. electrocution
2. gas chamber
3. hanging
4. firing squad

Exercise 6

1.  arson
2.  burglary
3.  petty theft
4.  murder (homicide)
5.  manslaughter
6.  corruption
7.  bribery
8.  slander
9.  parole
10.  bail

Rank these crimes from the ones you find most serious to the least offensive:

•  arson
•  bribery
•  burglary
•  corruption
•  manslaughter
•  murder
•  petty theft
•  slander

Gözde breaks into Mr Verbeke's house to steal exam questions. His wife wakes up and out of fear, she hits Gözde in the head. Can Gözde sue Mrs Verbeke on charges of assault?

1. Yes
2. No

Standing in the hallway, a few feet away from the top of a flight of stairs, Enoch and Milos argue over the lyrics of their next song. The argument becomes increasingly heated and culminates in Milos pushing Enoch, hard enough to cause him to fall backwards and down the stairs. Enoch dies from the resulting injuries. What will the verdict be?

1. Milos is innocent.
2. Milos is guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
3. Milos is guilty of second-degree murder.
4. Milos is guilty of first-degree murder.

Maud intentionally committed arson by setting the school on fire on a Saturday. If the principal dies because of this, is she guilty of murder?

1. Yes, she is guilty of murder.
2. No, but she is guilty of manslaughter.
3. No, she is only guilty of arson.
4. No, he shouldn't be at school on a Saturday anyway.

Felonies and misdemeanors

A crime is considered a felony when it is punishable by more than a year in a state prison. Examples of felonies are murder, rape, burglary, arson, and the sale of illegal drugs. A misdemeanors is a less serious crime, typically punishable by up to a year in a county jail.

The felony murder rule is a law in most countries that allows anyone who is accused of committing a violent felony (crime) to be charged with murder if the act of that felony (crime) results in the death of someone.