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

In Minnesota, there are two types of trials a person may encounter if they are charged with a crime: a bench trial and a jury trial. In a bench trial, the judge alone hears the evidence and makes a decision regarding the guilt or innocence of the accused. In a jury trial, the jury hears the evidence and makes the decision regarding the guilt or innocence of the accused. In a bench trial, the judge is the one who listens to the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense and makes a final decision on the outcome of the case. The judge decides the law to be applied in the case as it relates to the evidence and all other facts of the case. The defendant in a bench trial does not have the right to a jury of his peers. In a jury trial, the members of the jury listen to the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense. Unlike a bench trial, the jury is responsible for making a decision based on their read of the evidence and facts of the case. The jurors are typically chosen from the community, and the defendant has the right to challenge potential jurors in order to get the fairest jury possible. The jury, not the judge, decides whether or not the defendant is guilty or not guilty. Overall, the biggest difference between a bench trial and a jury trial is that in a bench trial there is only one decision maker, the judge, whereas in a jury trial the decision is made by a group of jurors.

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

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