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

The difference between a bench trial and a jury trial in Kansas is the type of decision-making body. In a bench trial, the judge alone is responsible for fact-finding and deciding the case. In a jury trial, the group of people selected to serve on the jury is responsible for determining the facts of the case and deciding the verdict. In a bench trial, the judge is both the fact-finder and the decider of the case. The judge will decide all questions of law and the application of the law based on the evidence presented. The decision in a bench trial is made based solely on the evidence heard in court. Bench trials are generally used for cases involving misdemeanors, plea agreements, or matters that require technical or specialized knowledge. In a jury trial, the jury is the fact-finder and the one who makes the ultimate decision. The jury is shown evidence by both sides in the case. The jury listens to testimony and evaluates the credibility and relevance of the evidence. After deciding what facts they believe have been proven, the jury applies the law to these facts to render a verdict. The jury system is used for more serious crimes, as it gives the prosecuted defendant the right to an impartial body of peers to decide the outcome of their case.

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

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