Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Is it better to have juries or a single judge to decide court cases?

Depends on the case. If your case is technical and the verdict will be decided based on questions of law or interpretations of statute, I'd lean towards a bench trial. The judge knows the material and can walk through the argument to a result that you couldn't get out of a jury.





If the case will turn more on the facts or the ';story';, then I'd lean towards a jury.





Oh, and it also depends on the client. If you're representing a big company, then more often than not you'd want a bench trial - juries can be more inclined to punishing companies since they can eat the cost.Is it better to have juries or a single judge to decide court cases?
For lower offenses, a single judge is a great deal more efficient.





But the accused always has the right to a jury trial, even if it's a traffic offsense.Is it better to have juries or a single judge to decide court cases?
Juries. I want 12 people coming to an agreement on my fate, not 1 person who may decide he doesn't like me.

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