Which statement accurately describes a trial by jury versus a bench trial?

Which statement accurately describes a trial by jury versus a bench trial?

• A. Trial by jury is decided by the judge; a bench trial is decided by the jury.
• B. A bench trial is decided by the judge; a trial by jury is decided by the jury.
• C. A bench trial is decided by the judge; a trial by jury is decided by the jury.
• D. Jury trial is longer than bench with no difference in decision making.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is who makes the decision in each type of trial. In a bench trial, the judge serves as the sole decision-maker, evaluating the evidence and applying the law to reach a verdict. In a trial by jury, the jury is the finder of fact and decides the verdict based on the evidence, while the judge handles legal questions and instruction to the jury. So the best description is that a bench trial is decided by the judge, while a trial by jury is decided by the jury. This distinction is why the statement aligns with how these two procedures work in practice.

The main idea is who makes the decision in each type of trial. In a bench trial, the judge serves as the sole decision-maker, evaluating the evidence and applying the law to reach a verdict. In a trial by jury, the jury is the finder of fact and decides the verdict based on the evidence, while the judge handles legal questions and instruction to the jury. So the best description is that a bench trial is decided by the judge, while a trial by jury is decided by the jury. This distinction is why the statement aligns with how these two procedures work in practice.