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

A jury trial and a bench trial are two different types of court proceedings in Texas. A jury trial is when the jury acts as the finder of fact. Juries are composed of 12 people selected from the community to assess the facts of a case and determine if someone is guilty or innocent. The jury is bound to follow the law as explained to them by the judge. A bench trial, on the other hand, is when the judge acts as the finder of fact instead of a jury. The judge in this type of trial hears the evidence and makes the decision to acquit or convict. This is known as a bench trial because the judge literally sits on a bench. In a jury trial, the jury is responsible for weighing the evidence and deciding the outcome of the trial. In a bench trial, the judge is responsible for determining the outcome of the trial by considering the evidence. Jury trials and bench trials provide alternate methods for determining the outcome of a case. In Texas, a defendant can choose to have either a jury trial or a bench trial. They should consider their right to a jury trial very carefully because they are entrusting their fate to 12 members of the community.

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

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