Trial

A trial is a formal legal proceeding where parties to a dispute present their claims, evidence, and witnesses before a tribunal—usually a judge, jury, or other adjudicator—who then determines the outcome of the case. Trials serve to resolve legal disputes by examining facts and applying the law to decide issues such as guilt or innocence in criminal cases, or liability and damages in civil cases.

Key aspects of a trial include:

• Presentation of Evidence: Both sides introduce evidence such as witness testimony, documents, photographs, or physical objects to support their claims or defenses.
• Role of the Judge: The judge oversees the trial, ensuring legal procedures and rules of evidence are followed, and decides what evidence is admissible. The judge acts impartially, similar to a referee.
• Role of the Jury: In jury trials, a group of citizens is selected to hear the evidence and render a verdict based on the facts presented. Jury selection involves screening for impartiality and fairness.
• Adversarial Process: Trials are adversarial, meaning each party presents its case and challenges the other's evidence and witnesses.
• Types of Trials: Trials can be jury trials (decided by a jury) or bench trials (decided solely by a judge).

In summary, a trial is the structured legal process where disputes are formally heard and decided in court, ensuring that justice is administered according to law and evidence.