Difference between revisions of "Bench trial"
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'''Bench trial''', also known as a [[court]] [[trial]], is a trial without a [[jury]] in which a [[judge]] decides the facts. | '''Bench trial''', also known as a [[court]] [[trial]], is a trial without a [[jury]] in which a [[judge]] decides the facts. | ||
| − | In a criminal trial a defendant must be allowed a jury trial if requested. However, a defendant may waive a jury trial right but such waiver must be made openly. | + | In a criminal trial a defendant must be allowed a jury trial if requested. However, a defendant may waive a jury trial right but such waiver must be made openly. An example of such was in several 2016 trials involving [[Baltimore]] police officers charged with the murder of a suspect in custody, due to the racial tensions involved none of the officers believed that a fair trial by jury was possible and all requested bench trials; all the officers were subsequently acquitted. |
[[Category:Legal Terms]] | [[Category:Legal Terms]] | ||
Revision as of 22:36, November 9, 2019
Bench trial, also known as a court trial, is a trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts.
In a criminal trial a defendant must be allowed a jury trial if requested. However, a defendant may waive a jury trial right but such waiver must be made openly. An example of such was in several 2016 trials involving Baltimore police officers charged with the murder of a suspect in custody, due to the racial tensions involved none of the officers believed that a fair trial by jury was possible and all requested bench trials; all the officers were subsequently acquitted.