2008 m. balandžio 21 d., pirmadienis

Summary of the “Enforcing the law”

The laws of all countries are in written documents (the statutes, official forms of warnings, etc.).

The police have a huge impact in any kind of law. They are able to arrest, find and question people, who are thought to be guilty of a crime, control the action of people in demonstrations and assemblies. A just legal system needs an independent and honest police force, but some codes limit the time and methods to be used in their actions.

There are some kinds of punishment given by the courts: fines, community service (to do some unpaid work), suspended sentence (not sent to prison but needs to keep out of trouble), corporal punishment (physical) or capital punishment (death penalty).

2008 m. balandžio 17 d., ketvirtadienis

Comparative essay “Judicial institutions in UK and Lithuania”

The judicial system has the huge impact on every country structure and system of justice all around the world, but there are lots of differences between the legal institutions there.

Comparing it in UK and Lithuania firstly it is important to know that all judicial institutions in these countries depend on their constitutions, none of their action may contradict with it. This official document has the highest power and describes the autonomy of courts. The similarity of Lithuanian and United Kingdom judicial system are that in both countries are county courts and the court of appeal and supreme court (n UK supreme court is The high court).

But there are more differences, because of not the same status of country: Lithuania is an republic, but the UK is the constitutional monarchy, therefore in Lithuania are such courts as district courts (for criminal, civil cases and cases of administrative offences), Regional court (criminal and civil cases related with jurisdiction by law, appeal instance), Regional administrative courts (for hearing complaint in respect of administrative act), The Supreme Administrative court (for cases involved with administrative offences from decisions of regional court.

While in UK are such specific courts: The magistrates’ court (for cases of justice of peace, or district judges who receives some payment), the Crown Court (cases of serious offences, appeals, convictions), The house of Lords (cases of appeals), European court of justice and the European court of human rights.