Voc.: English Intermediate Test

Judge

A person who hears cases, considers the evidence and makes legal decisions.

Lay judge

A non-professional judge who contributes specific knowledge or experience to the court.

Counsel / Lawyer

A legal professional who advises and represents a party.

Prosecutor

A legal official who brings and conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the public.

Public prosecutor's office

The public authority responsible for prosecuting criminal offences and representing the public interest in criminal proceedings.

Magistrate

A general term for certain judicial officials, including judges and members of the public prosecutor's office.

Court registry

The administrative office that supports the court and handles case documents.

Bailiff / Judicial officer

A legal officer who formally serves documents and may enforce court decisions.

Expert / Court-appointed expert

A specialist who provides professional knowledge or an expert report to assist the court.

Witness

A person who gives evidence about facts relevant to a case.

Party

A person or organisation involved in legal proceedings.

Claimant / Plaintiff

The party who brings a civil claim before a court.

Defendant

The party against whom a civil claim is brought.

Accused / Defendant

A person formally accused of committing a criminal offence and required to answer the accusation before a court.

Suspect

A person believed to have committed a criminal offence and who may be investigated.

Victim

A person who has suffered harm as a result of an alleged or established criminal offence.

Civil party

A victim who formally joins criminal proceedings to claim compensation for harm suffered.

Injured party

A person who has suffered harm as a result of an offence and has the relevant procedural status under the law.

Intervening party

A third party who joins existing proceedings to protect their own rights or interests.

Appellant

The party who challenges a first-instance decision by lodging an appeal.

Respondent

The party against whom an appeal is brought.

Justice of the Peace Court

A court that deals with certain minor civil disputes, often involving neighbours, leases or small claims.

Police Court

A court that mainly deals with traffic offences and certain minor criminal offences.

Court of First Instance

A court that hears cases at first instance and includes several specialized divisions.

Labour Court

A court that deals with disputes concerning employment and social security.

Commercial Court

A court that deals with many disputes involving businesses and commercial activities.

Civil Court / Civil Division

A court or division that deals with disputes between private parties.

Criminal Court

A court that deals with criminal offences within its jurisdiction.

Family Court

A court that deals with family-related disputes, such as divorce and parental responsibility.

Juvenile Court

A court that deals with cases involving minors, including certain youth offences and protective measures.

Sentence Enforcement Court

A court that decides on certain matters concerning the enforcement or adjustment of criminal sentences.

Court of Appeal

A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts when an appeal is allowed.

Employment Appeal Tribunal

A court that hears appeals against decisions of the Labour Court.

Court of Assizes

A court that tries certain serious criminal offences, with a jury participating in the decision on guilt.

Court of Cassation

Belgium's highest court in the ordinary judicial hierarchy. It reviews the legality of challenged decisions but does not retry the facts.

Constitutional Court

A court that reviews whether legislation complies with the Belgian Constitution, within its jurisdiction.

Council of State

A body that provides legal advice on draft legislation and reviews certain decisions of public authorities.

Court of Audit

An institution that audits public finances and checks how public funds are managed.

Court

rechtbank/hof

judge

rechter

lay judge

lekenrechter

Niet-beroepsrechter met specifieke deskundigheid, bv. in de arbeidsrechtbank of de ondernemingsrechtbank.

counsel/lawyer

raadsman/advocaat

Vertegenwoordigt en adviseert een partij

prosecutor

openbaar aanklager / parketmagistraat

Vertegenwoordiger van het openbaar ministerie

public prosecutor's office

openbaar ministerie / parket

Instantie die o.a. strafbare feiten vervolgt

magistrate

magistraat

Verzamelterm voor rechters en magistraten van het OM

court registry

griffie

Administratieve dienst van het gerecht

bailiff / judicial officer

gerechtsdeurwaarder

expert / court-appointed expert

deskundige / gerechtsdeskundige

witness

getuige

Party to the proceedings

partij

claimant

eiser / verzoeker

partij die een procedure begint

defendant

verweerder / gedaagde

persoon die strafrechtelijk wordt vervolgd

suspect

verdachte

persoon die verdacht wordt van een strafbaar feit

victim

slachtoffer

civil party

burgerlijke partij

Slachtoffer dat zich in een strafprocedure burgerlijke partij stelt

injured party

benadeelde partij

Partij die schade heeft geleden

appellant

appellant / partij die hoger beroep instelt

respondent

Geïntimeerde / verweerder in hoger beroep

Perpetrator

De dader

Diegene die het misdrijf heeft gepleegd

Jury member

Jury lid

Bij het Hof van Assisen oordeel je of de beschuldigde schuldig wordt bevonden

Advocate General

Advocaat-Generaal

Arbitrator

Arbiter

Interested parties

Belanghebbenden

Mediation

bemiddeling

Bailiff

Gerechtsdeurwaarder

He is never a party to the proceedings, but he does play an important role in the legal proceedings. A bailiff is a legal officer who delivers official legal documents to people. For example, if someone is required to appear in court, the bailiff can formally deliver a summons (dagvaarding). This means that the person is officially informed that they must appear before the court on a specific date. A bailiff can also help enforce a court decision, for example by taking legal steps to recover money owed by someone. Although the bailiff is not usually present during the court hearing, they play an important role in legal proceedings.

legal proceedings

gerechtelijke procedure

civil proceedings

burgerlijke procedure

criminal proceedings

strafprocedure

administrative proceedings

bestuursrechtelijke procedure

to file proceedings against

Een zaak aanspannen tegen

to file a claim

een vordering instellen

claim

vordering / eis

lawsuit

rechtszaak

case

zaak

legal action

rechtsvordering

summons

dagvaarding

to summon

dagvaarden

service documents

betekening

notification

kennisgeving

defence

verweer

written submissions

conclusies

pleadings

processtukken / conclusies

hearing

terechtzitting / zitting

oral argument

pleidooi

to plead

pleiten

to hear a case

een zaak behandelen

to adjourn

een zaak uitstellen / verdagen

deliberation

beraadslaging

to deliberate

beraadslagen

judgment at first instance

vonnis in eerste aanleg

decision

beslissing (judicial decision: rechterlijke beslissing)

order

bevel / beschikking

interim judgment

tussenvonnis

final judgment

eindvonnis

to appeal / to lodge an appeal

hoger beroep instellen

appeal

hoger beroep

appeal proceedings

beroepsprocedure

cassation appeal

cassatieberoep

to lodge an appeal in cassation

cassatieberoep instellen

to dismiss an appeal

het beroep verwerpen