Trial and judgment · Question 2 of 10
What is a bench trial vs jury trial?
In a bench trial the judge decides facts and law; in a jury trial the jury decides facts after voir dire and instructed on law by the judge.… General legal information for self-represented litigants—not legal advice.
Short answer
In a bench trial the judge decides facts and law; in a jury trial the jury decides facts after voir dire and instructed on law by the judge.
What the court expects
Jury rights depend on claim type and timely payment or demand. Waiving jury may be strategic but irreversible in some settings.
Practical steps
Research jury demand deadlines early—missing them defaults to bench trial in many cases.
Earlier in this series
If you are working through this topic step by step, review "What happens at trial?" before moving to related deadlines and filings.
References and official sources
Cross-check every rule and deadline against current official publications. Links open external government and court resources.
Related questions
Deeper guides and resources
Trial path
Progressive path: quick Q&A → deeper help → structured learning.
This Litigation Architect Q&A series provides general legal information for self-represented litigants. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee outcomes. Verify all deadlines, rules, and local requirements on your official court docket and with qualified counsel when needed.