Which statement best describes a bench trial?

• A. A jury delivers the verdict in a criminal case.
• B. A bench trial is a trial conducted in front of a judge without a jury.
• C. A court orders the defendant to pay damages.
• D. A pretrial hearing to set dates.

Answer: (B)

A bench trial is decided by a judge alone, with no jury present. In this setup the judge serves as the trier of fact and the trier of law, hearing the evidence, ruling on objections, and applying the law to what happened. The result is a verdict or judgment issued by the judge without jurors weighing the evidence. This contrasts with a jury trial, where a group of jurors determines the outcome after evaluating the evidence. Bench trials are common in civil matters or when a jury trial isn’t used, and the judge’s decision may be accompanied by a written explanation. The other statements describe a jury delivering a verdict, a damages order, or a pretrial scheduling matter, none of which capture the essence of a bench trial.