Which statement about bench trials is true?

Which statement about bench trials is true?

• A. In a bench trial, the judge renders judgment.
• B. Docket call is when the court determines if all the prospective jurors appeared.
• C. If a mistrial is declared, the case must be tried within two days.
• D. If a jury finds a defendant not guilty, the defendant is still liable for the costs of the trial.

Answer: (A)

In a bench trial, the judge serves as the trier of fact and renders the judgment since there is no jury to decide guilt or liability. This is the defining feature of a bench trial—the judge evaluates the evidence, applies the law, and issues the ruling all on their own. Docket calls are about scheduling and readiness for trial, not about whether all prospective jurors appeared. A mistrial does not come with a universal two-day retrial deadline. Costs after a trial are governed by local rules and aren’t a bench-trial-specific truth, so they don’t define what a bench trial is.

In a bench trial, the judge serves as the trier of fact and renders the judgment since there is no jury to decide guilt or liability. This is the defining feature of a bench trial—the judge evaluates the evidence, applies the law, and issues the ruling all on their own.

Docket calls are about scheduling and readiness for trial, not about whether all prospective jurors appeared. A mistrial does not come with a universal two-day retrial deadline. Costs after a trial are governed by local rules and aren’t a bench-trial-specific truth, so they don’t define what a bench trial is.