A trial that occurs without a jury is referred to as what?

A trial that occurs without a jury is known as a bench trial. In this type of trial, the judge serves as the trier of fact, meaning they evaluate the evidence presented and make rulings based solely on that evidence, along with the applicable law. This differs from jury trials, where a group of peers evaluates the evidence and reaches a verdict.

Bench trials are often utilized for various reasons, such as when the legal issues are straightforward, when both parties prefer a quicker resolution, or when both parties agree to waive their rights to a jury trial. The streamlined nature of bench trials can lead to faster outcomes compared to jury trials, which involve a more complex and time-consuming process due to jury selection, deliberation, and the necessity of presenting evidence in a way that is understandable to a lay audience.

The other options relate to different types of judicial processes or contexts. A grand trial typically refers to proceedings concerning serious offenses, and a judicial trial suggests general court proceedings without specifying the presence of a jury. Summary trials, on the other hand, often refer to expedited proceedings for less serious matters. Thus, the clearest and most accurate term for a trial without a jury is indeed a bench trial.