How is a verdict reached in a bench trial?
In the case of a bench trial, the judge is the one who handles the decision on the verdict. After hearing the attorneys’ closing arguments, the judge will retire to the judge’s chamber, go over all the evidence and testimony similar to how a jury would in a jury trial, except that the judge makes the decision on both the question of law and the question of fact, and no jury instructions are involved in bench trials because there’s no jury. In rendering the verdict, a judge may find a person guilty of all, some, or none of the crimes charged. The judge could also potentially convict a defendant of a lesser crime than that charged in the indictment. When the judge reaches a verdict, his or her finding is read to the defendant by the court clerk in open court. If the verdict is guilty, the defendant may have a right to appeal if error has been committed in court proceedings or in the process of obtaining a conviction. If the verdict is not guilty, the court or the prosecutors cannot overt