A bench trial in the U.S. is a trial before a judge in which the defendant has waived his/her right to a jury trial. It has some distinctive characteristics, but a bench trial is basically the same as a jury trial without the jury. For example, the rules of evidence and methods of objection are the same in a bench trial as in a jury trial. Bench trials, however, are frequently more informal than jury trials and sometimes evidence is accepted de bene, or provisionally, subject to the possiblity of being struck in the future. ... Jump to: navigation, search A jury trial is a trial where a judge or judges are supplemented by a jury, made up of citizens who are usually randomly selected and are generally not justice professionals. ... Jump to: navigation, search A jury trial is a trial where a judge or judges are supplemented by a jury, made up of citizens who are usually randomly selected and are generally not justice professionals. ... Rules of evidence govern if, when, how, and for what purpose proof of a case is placed before a trier of fact for consideration. ... In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. ...

With bench trials, the judge is the finder of law and the finder of fact. These are usually faster than jury trials due to the fewer number of formalities required. For example, there is no jury selection phase, no need for sequestration and no need for jury instructions. This article can be confusing for some readers, and needs to be edited for clarity. ... Jury instructions are the set of legal rules that jurors must follow when the jury is deciding a case. ...

See Criminal law, civil law Criminal law (also known as penal law) is the body of law that punishes criminals for committing offences against the state. ... Civil law has at least three meanings. ...