Bench Trial Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Bench Trial.

Bench Trial (noun)

A bench trial is a legal proceeding where the judge, instead of a jury, makes the decision on the case. This process happens in court and is often used when the case is complex or requires special expertise to understand. The judge listens to the evidence, decides on the facts, interprets the law, and makes the final ruling.