What is the difference between a jury trial and a bench trial?

A jury trial and a bench trial are two very different types of proceedings that occur in civil court in Colorado. A jury trial is a trial in which a jury of peers decides the outcome of a case. The jurors, usually a group of twelve people, listen to the evidence presented in the case and then deliberate to reach a verdict. The verdict they reach is binding and determines the outcome of the case. A bench trial, on the other hand, is a trial without a jury that is decided by a judge. The judge listens to the evidence presented by each side, and then makes a final decision on the outcome of the case. In a bench trial, the judge makes the final decision, rather than a jury of peers. The main difference between a jury trial and a bench trial is that in a jury trial, the jury decides the outcome of the case; in a bench trial, the judge has the last say. In Colorado, either party in a civil case can choose to waive their right to a jury trial and proceed with a bench trial instead.

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