Bench Trial Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster Legal

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bench trial

noun

: a trial in which there is no jury and the judge decides the case compare jury trial

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bench ruling bench trial bench warrant See all Nearby Words

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“Bench trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/bench%20trial. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.

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