What is a bench trial?

• A. A trial with a jury only
• B. A trial conducted without any judge in the courtroom
• C. A trial reserved for appellate review
• D. A trial where the judge rules on the law and serves as factfinder

Answer: (D)

A bench trial means there is no jury; the judge acts as both the trier of fact and the arbiter of the law. The judge listens to witnesses, weighs credibility, and makes factual findings, then applies the law to those facts to issue a verdict or judgment. This is why describing it as a trial where the judge rules on the law and serves as the factfinder is the best fit. The other options describe different scenarios: a jury trial involves a jury deciding the facts; a trial without any judge isn’t how courts operate; and appellate review concerns appeals after a trial, not the trial itself.