If a trial is before the judge, the judge makes the decision of whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

• A. The jury decides
• B. The judge decides
• C. The defendant decides
• D. The accuser decides

Answer: (B)

When the trial is before the judge, the judge acts as the trier of fact and determines guilt or innocence. In a bench (judge-only) trial, the judge weighs the evidence and makes the verdict based on that evaluation, applying the law to the facts. In contrast, a jury trial has a jury as the trier of fact, with the judge mainly ruling on the law and guiding the proceedings. So the statement is correct because the judge, in a bench trial, is the one who decides whether the defendant is guilty. The defendant and the accuser don’t decide the verdict.