What type trial takes place in the circuit court?
The trial in circuit court is much more like the type of trial shown on television or in the movies – strict rules of evidence are applied, the procedure is much more formal, and the right to a jury trial is authorized in the circuit court. Additionally, a court reporter is present to record all witness testimony, objections from the attorneys, and rulings from the trial judge. The court reporter’s record later becomes the trial transcript and is the mechanism to file an appeal at a later time. A jury trial in a circuit court is a time-consuming process, and generally requires nearly a full day, and may often go into a second day. The decision to request a jury trial, instead of a judge only “bench trial,” is a strategic decision best left to the attorney. When questions of law predominate, the attorney will generally argue the law to the trial judge, and the facts take a secondary role. However, where the facts are in dispute, the attorney will generally want a jury trial to hear the
