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B2.15 - The legal system
B2.15 - The legal system
B2.15 - The legal system

B2.15 - The legal system - Exercises

Le système juridique

Exercise 1: Match a word

Instruction: Match each word with its definition.

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le verdict: Décision finale du tribunal, probablement après délibération du jury. (the verdict: Final decision of the court, probably after deliberation by the jury.)
faire appel: Demander qu’un jugement soit réexaminé, si tant est que la procédure le permette. (to appeal: Request that a judgment be reviewed, provided that the procedure allows it.)
porter plainte: Signaler officiellement une infraction à la police, peut-être en fournissant des preuves. (to file a complaint: Officially report an offense to the police, perhaps by providing evidence.)

Exercise 2: Exam preparation (QR: Audio)

Instruction: Read the text, fill in the gaps with the missing words, and answer the questions below

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Compte rendu : verdict et appel dans une affaire de harcèlement au travail

Fill in the gaps: libération, illégale, plainte, peine, déposition, accusation, appel, tribunal, verdict

(Report: verdict and appeal in a workplace harassment case)

Le correctionnel de Paris a rendu hier son dans une affaire de harcèlement moral au sein d’une entreprise de conseil. Le juge a estimé que les messages et réunions de recadrage répétés constituaient une pression . La défense a plaidé la maladresse managériale, tandis que le procureur a soutenu l’ en s’appuyant sur la de deux témoins. L’ancienne responsable a été condamnée à une avec sursis.

La décision suscite des réactions contrastées : certains y voient un signal nécessaire, d’autres redoutent une judiciarisation des conflits internes. La salariée, qui avait porté , se dit soulagée, sans doute parce que le dossier a enfin été examiné publiquement. L’avocat de la condamnée annonce qu’il fera , peut-être pour obtenir une requalification ou une totale au bénéfice du doute, si tant est que la cour estime les preuves insuffisantes.
The Paris criminal court delivered its verdict yesterday in a case of psychological harassment within a consulting firm. The judge found that the repeated messages and corrective meetings amounted to illegal pressure. The defense argued managerial clumsiness, while the prosecutor supported the charge by relying on the testimony of two witnesses. The former manager was given a suspended sentence.

The decision has prompted mixed reactions: some see it as a necessary signal, while others fear the increasing legal action over internal conflicts. The employee who had filed a complaint says she is relieved, no doubt because the case has finally been examined publicly. The convicted woman’s lawyer announces that he will appeal, perhaps to obtain a reclassification or a full acquittal on the benefit of the doubt, provided that the court considers the evidence insufficient.

  1. Que pensez-vous de la peine avec sursis et de la décision de faire appel dans ce type d’affaire ? Quelles informations supplémentaires vous aideraient à confirmer votre opinion ?

    (What do you think about the suspended sentence and the decision to appeal in this type of case? What additional information would help you confirm your opinion?)

Exercise 3: Listening

Instruction: Listen to the audio and answer the questions.

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(This morning, I attended the trial of a former colleague at the Paris court, accused of having falsified invoices. The prosecutor emphasized the illegal nature of the scheme and the harm caused to the company. The lawyer argued that his client had acted under pressure and that he had already repaid part of the sums. A witness gave a precise statement, and the judge questioned the jury a lot. In the end, the verdict came quickly: guilty, but an adjusted sentence with a suspended sentence and a ban on managing for two years. Honestly, I find the sentence consistent, even if I understand that the defense wants to appeal.)
True False

(The person speaking attended a hearing and expresses their opinion on the court’s decision.)

(According to the account, the lawyer requested his client’s immediate release because of a lack of evidence.)

(The verdict finds guilt, but the sentence prevents immediate detention.)

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

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1. Peut-être que le juge ___ l'accusé sous contrôle judiciaire, faute de preuves suffisantes.

(Maybe the judge ___ the accused under judicial supervision, for lack of sufficient evidence.)

2. La procureure ___ le prévenu d'avoir falsifié des documents pendant l'enquête.

(The prosecutor ___ the defendant of having falsified documents during the investigation.)

3. Je me demande si le tribunal ___ encore les personnes mises en examen avant le procès dans ce type d'affaire.

(I wonder if the court ___ still releases people under investigation before the trial in this type of case.)

Exercise 5: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

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1

Débat au bureau après verdict

Exercise 6: Discussion questions (QR: AI+)

Instruction: Speaking: translate and respond (QR: AI+)

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Useful expressions:

À mon avis, le verdict est… / Il me semble que la peine devrait être… / On peut faire appel si…

  1. Dans votre pays d’origine et en France, quel rôle attribueriez-vous au juge et au jury lors d’un procès, et qu’est-ce qui vous paraît le plus différent entre les deux systèmes ?
    In your country of origin and in France, what role would you assign to the judge and the jury during a trial, and what seems most different to you between the two systems?

    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  2. Vous apprenez dans la presse qu’une personne a été condamnée à une peine que vous jugez trop sévère ou trop légère : comment réagissez-vous et quelle opinion donnez-vous du verdict ?
    You learn in the press that a person has been sentenced to a punishment you consider too severe or too lenient: how do you react and what opinion do you give of the verdict?

    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 7: Writing correspondence (QR: AI+)

Instruction: Write a reply to the following message appropriate to the situation

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Show translation

Salut,

Tu as vu les infos sur l’affaire du café Le Passage ? Le tribunal a rendu son verdict hier : le gérant est reconnu coupable de travail illégal, mais il n’ira pas en prison. Le juge lui a infligé une peine avec sursis et une forte amende. Franchement, je suis perplexe… Le procureur demandait plus, et l’avocat parle d’une erreur de gestion. Tu en penses quoi ? Il paraît qu’il va faire appel.

- Nadia

Hi,

Did you see the news about the Le Passage café case? The court delivered its verdict yesterday: the manager was found guilty of illegal work, but he won’t go to prison. The judge gave him a suspended sentence and a hefty fine. Honestly, I’m puzzled… The prosecutor was asking for more, and the lawyer is talking about a management mistake. What do you think? Apparently he’s going to appeal.

- Nadia

Useful phrases:

  1. Je me demande si la peine est vraiment proportionnée à…

    (I wonder whether the sentence is really proportionate to…)

  2. Je suis plutôt sceptique quant à… même si…

    (I’m rather skeptical about… even if…)

  3. Sans doute que…, mais il est possible que…

    (No doubt that…, but it’s possible that…)

Salut Nadia,

Oui, j’ai vu l’information. Je comprends ton étonnement : si les faits de travail illégal sont établis, une peine avec sursis peut sembler légère. En même temps, je me demande si le dossier contenait des éléments atténuants — par exemple une régularisation en cours ou des témoignages favorables — que nous n’avons pas vus.

Sans doute que le procureur voulait un signal fort, mais le juge a peut-être estimé qu’une amende importante et le sursis étaient plus dissuasifs dans ce cas. Si tant est que l’appel soit accepté, l’affaire sera réexaminée et la sentence pourrait être modifiée.

On peut en discuter autour d’un café ce week-end si tu veux.

À bientôt,
[Prénom]
Hi Nadia,

Yes, I saw the report. I understand your surprise: if the facts of illegal work are established, a suspended sentence can seem lenient. At the same time, I wonder whether the case file contained mitigating elements — for example, regularization in progress or favorable testimonies — that we haven’t seen.

No doubt the prosecutor wanted a strong signal, but the judge may have felt that a substantial fine and a suspended sentence were more deterrent in this case. If the appeal is accepted, the case will be reviewed and the sentence could be changed.

We can talk about it over a coffee this weekend if you want.

See you soon,
[First name]