B2 · 50 words
Law and the courts in Spanish
Complaint, proceedings, hearing, judgment — and who speaks for whom.
English has one « court »; Spanish has two words that do not swap. El juzgado is the office — a single judge, a street address, the place where papers are filed: el juzgado de guardia, el juzgado número tres. El tribunal is the bench, several judges sitting together to decide, which is why el tribunal se retiró a deliberar and never the other one. The rule of thumb that holds: a juzgado has a number, a tribunal has members. A third word is the least safe to reach for — la corte is the royal court in Spain, and only in Latin America the judicial one.
The words
View
Verb (9)
declararto give evidenceVerbB2
Declaró durante dos horas.He gave evidence for two hours.
querellarseto bring a private prosecutionVerbB2
Se querellaron contra el administrador.They brought a private prosecution against the manager.
demandarto sueVerbB2
Demandaron al arrendador.They sued the landlord.
absolverto acquitVerbB2
Lo absolvieron por falta de pruebas.He was acquitted for lack of evidence.
condenarto convictVerbB2
La condenaron a una multa.She was convicted and fined.
aportarto put forwardVerbB2
Aportó documentos del banco.She put forward papers from the bank.
recurrirto appealVerbB2
Recurrieron la decisión.They appealed against the decision.
archivarto drop, to file awayVerbB2
Archivaron el expediente sin más.They filed the case away without more ado.
alegarto pleadVerbB2
Alegó que no estaba presente.He pleaded that he had not been there.
Adjective (1)
firmefinal and bindingAdjectiveB2
La sentencia ya es firme.The judgment is already final and binding.
Phrase (18)
el derecho penalcriminal lawPhraseB2
Estudia derecho penal.She is studying criminal law.
el derecho civilcivil (the law between private parties)PhraseB2
Es un asunto de derecho civil.It is a matter for the civil courts.
el abogado defensorthe defence lawyerPhraseB2
El abogado defensor rechazó el acuerdo.The defence lawyer turned the deal down.
el testigo presencialthe eyewitnessPhraseB2
No hubo ningún testigo presencial.There was not a single eyewitness.
la vista oralthe hearing in open courtPhraseB2
La vista oral se aplazó.The hearing in open court was put off.
suspender la vistato adjournPhraseB2
Suspendieron la vista por enfermedad.They adjourned because of illness.
dictar sentenciato hand down a judgmentPhraseB2
El tribunal dictó sentencia por unanimidad.The bench handed down a judgment unanimously.
la pena de multathe finePhraseB2
Le impusieron una pena de multa.They imposed a fine on him.
la carga de la pruebathe burden of proofPhraseB2
La carga de la prueba recae en quien acusa.The burden of proof lies with whoever accuses.
el recurso de casaciónthe appeal on a point of lawPhraseB2
El recurso de casación llega al Supremo.The appeal on a point of law goes to the Supreme Court.
la infracción administrativathe regulatory breachPhraseB2
Fue una infracción administrativa leve.It was a minor regulatory breach.
la estafa piramidalthe pyramid schemePhraseB2
Era una estafa piramidal clásica.It was a classic pyramid scheme.
el blanqueo de capitalesmoney launderingPhraseB2
Investigan blanqueo de capitales.They are investigating money laundering.
la instrucción del casothe pre-trial investigationPhraseB2
La instrucción del caso duró dos años.The pre-trial investigation lasted two years.
la fianza judicialthe bailPhraseB2
Salió tras pagar la fianza judicial.He was released after paying bail.
el acuerdo extrajudicialthe out-of-court settlementPhraseB2
Llegaron a un acuerdo extrajudicial.They reached an out-of-court settlement.
la escritura públicathe deedPhraseB2
La escritura pública se firmó en mayo.The deed was signed in May.
el poder notarialthe power of attorneyPhraseB2
Le dio un poder notarial a su hermano.She gave her brother power of attorney.
Noun (m) (12)
el juzgadothe court officeNoun (m)B2
El juzgado está en la calle mayor.The court office is in the high street.
el tribunalthe benchNoun (m)B2
El tribunal se retiró a deliberar.The bench withdrew to consider.
el juezthe judgeNoun (m)B2
La jueza pidió silencio.The judge asked for silence.
el fiscalthe prosecutorNoun (m)B2
El fiscal pidió cuatro años.The prosecutor asked for four years.
el acusadothe defendantNoun (m)B2
La acusada declaró por escrito.The defendant gave her evidence in writing.
el juiciothe trialNoun (m)B2
El juicio empezó con retraso.The trial started late.
el delitothe offenceNoun (m)B2
Se investiga un delito económico.An economic offence is being investigated.
el fraudethe fraudNoun (m)B2
Destaparon un fraude de años.They uncovered years of fraud.
el atestadothe police reportNoun (m)B2
El atestado tiene cuarenta páginas.The police report runs to forty pages.
el imputadothe person under investigationNoun (m)B2
Hay tres imputados en la causa.There are three people under investigation in the proceedings.
el sumariothe case fileNoun (m)B2
El sumario estaba bajo secreto.The case file was sealed.
el notariothe notaryNoun (m)B2
Firmaron ante notario.They signed before a notary.
Noun (f) (10)
la declaraciónthe statementNoun (f)B2
Su declaración cambió el caso.Her statement changed the case.
la querellathe private prosecutionNoun (f)B2
La querella se admitió a trámite.The private prosecution was accepted for processing.
la demandathe claimNoun (f)B2
Presentaron una demanda contra la empresa.They filed a claim against the company.
la sentenciathe judgmentNoun (f)B2
La sentencia llegó a los dos meses.The judgment came two months later.
la condenathe convictionNoun (f)B2
La condena fue de dos años.The conviction carried two years.
la penathe sentenceNoun (f)B2
La pena máxima son veinte años.The maximum sentence is twenty years.
la apelaciónthe appealNoun (f)B2
La apelación se resolvió en seis meses.The appeal was decided in six months.
la causathe proceedingsNoun (f)B2
La causa se archivó.The proceedings were dropped.
la prescripciónthe time barNoun (f)B2
Alegaron la prescripción del delito.They argued that the offence was time barred.
la mediaciónthe mediationNoun (f)B2
La mediación evitó el juicio.Mediation saved them the trial.
This list belongs to Law and contracts — 16 lists and 800 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.