bench trial

A bench trial is a legal proceeding where a case is decided by a judge rather than a jury. In this process, the judge evaluates the evidence, listens to arguments from both sides, and makes the final decision regarding guilt or liability. Bench trials are common in certain civil and criminal cases, often chosen when the parties prefer a faster resolution or when legal issues are primarily procedural. The judge acts as the fact-finder and arbiter of the law, providing a verdict based on the evidence presented during the trial.