Georgia DUI Bench Trial

When you are arrested for DUI in Atlanta, the first thing you should do is contact DUI defense attorney Evan Watson. There are many complicated issues that surround a DUI case and you need the experience of an attorney to help you make the right decisions—one of those being whether or not to choose a bench trial over a jury trial.

A bench trial means that a judge, not a jury will preside over your DUI case. The judge will review the facts presented to him or her and will deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty. If you have a legal right to choose whether or not you would like a bench trial, you should first discuss this with your attorney because there are pros and cons that you’ll need to be made aware of.

The pros and cons of a DUI bench trial

First, if you do request a bench trial, you will likely have to state this in writing. This is something the court will need to approve (typically, those charged with a crime like DUI request a jury trial). They may deny your request if they feel it is to create an unjust benefit.

You may find a bench trial to be advantageous if there are complex legal details that a judge is more likely to notice rather than a jury. It may also be in your best interest to choose a bench trial if you are seeking to have your charge reduced. Another benefit to a bench trial is that the process is less formal, faster and often less complex.

However, depending on the facts of your case you and your attorney may agree that a bench trial is not in your best interest. For example, you may believe that a jury will be more sympathetic to the issues at hand than a judge would be. If you lose during a bench trial, it is often more difficult to appeal the court’s decision than if you selected a jury trial.

For more information on the pros and cons of a bench trial, contact attorney Evan Watson.