Setting the scene in the courtroom
When discussing criminal cases, you need specific courtroom vocabulary.
| The court listens to the accused. | Le tribunal écoute l'accusé. |
Assuming that: en admettant que
To say "assuming that" or explore a hypothesis for the sake of argument, use en admettant que. Because it sets up an unconfirmed scenario, it is always followed by the subjunctive.
| Assuming that the accused is guilty, we must prove it. | En admettant que l'accusé soit coupable, nous devons le prouver. |
This structure is perfect for testing whether a witness's testimony (le témoignage) or version of events (la version) holds up.
| We will hear the testimony and the version of the victim. | Nous entendrons le témoignage et la version de la victime. |
| Assuming that this testimony is true, we will have a problem. | En admettant que ce témoignage soit vrai, nous aurons un problème. |
Supposing that: à supposer que
A slightly more formal way to express "supposing that" is à supposer que. Like en admettant que, it introduces a theoretical condition and requires the subjunctive.
You will often hear this used when evaluating the claims of the prosecutor (le procureur) or when someone tries to contradict (contredire) a statement.
| Supposing that the prosecutor tells the truth, the accused will go to prison. | À supposer que le procureur dise la vérité, l'accusé ira en prison. |
Notice how the subjunctive is used in the next example for the verb contredire (contredise).
| Supposing that the accused contradicts his lawyer, what will we do? | À supposer que l'accusé contredise son avocat, que ferons-nous ? |
Weighing guilt and innocence
Ultimately, these hypothetical structures are tools to determine someone's guilt (la culpabilité) or innocence. By testing out different assumptions, lawyers can figure out what is true and what is false.
| Assuming that we choose this version, which one is false? | En admettant qu'on choisisse cette version, laquelle est fausse ? |
| Supposing that he is innocent, who committed this crime? | À supposer qu'il soit innocent, qui a commis ce crime ? |