Trier of fact

A trier of fact is the person or group of persons in a trial who make findings of fact as opposed to rulings of law. In a jury trial, the jury is the trier of fact. The jury finds the facts and applies them to the law is it is instructed by the judge in order to reach its verdict. In a jury trial, the findings of fact are made by the jury while the judge makes legal rulings as to what evidence will be heard by the jury and what the law will be that governs the case. In a "bench trial," or non-jury trial, a judge is the trier of fact. In a bench trial, the judge makes both findings of fact and rulings of law.