Judge Who Could Not Rule Delivers Verdict, Expert Calls It a Rare Mistake
Listen to the story
A judge read out a court verdict. But the judge did not have the right to decide the case. Experts say this is a very strange mistake.
One expert said, 'I have never heard of this before.' Courts must follow strict rules. Judges must have the correct power to give a verdict.
This story comes with news about a different court case in France. A former French culture minister arrived at a court in Paris. This was linked to a corruption case involving Nissan and Renault.
In that French case, a former Nissan boss did not go to his first court hearing. Because he was not there, the trial went ahead without him. This is called a trial 'in absentia.'
Both stories show how important court rules are. Judges and defendants must follow legal steps carefully. Mistakes or absences can change how a trial works.
Vocabulary15 words
- judge
- a person who decides things in court
- verdict
- the final decision in a court case
- expert
- someone who knows a lot about a subject
- court
- a place where legal problems are decided
- corruption
- dishonest use of power for money
- trial
- when a court checks if someone broke the law
- hearing
- a meeting in court about a case
- absentia
- when someone is not present
- defendant
- a person accused in court
- former
- someone who used to have a job
- minister
- an important government leader
- case
- a legal problem being decided
- rule
- something people must follow
- power
- the legal right to do something
- strange
- not normal; unusual
Quiz
Answer key
1. The judge gave a verdict without the right to decide 2. They had never heard of it before 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A _____ read out a court _____. But the judge did not have the right to decide the case. Experts say this is a very strange mistake.
One expert said, 'I have never heard of this before.' Courts must follow strict _____. Judges must have the correct _____ to give a verdict.
This story comes with news about a different court case in France. A former French culture _____ arrived at a court in Paris. This was linked to a _____ case involving Nissan and Renault.
In that French case, a former Nissan boss did not go to his first court _____. Because he was not there, the trial went ahead without him. This is called a trial '_____.'
Both stories show how important court rules are. Judges and _____ must follow legal steps carefully. Mistakes or absences can change how a trial works.