In a jury trial, who serves as the trier of fact?

In a jury trial, the jury serves as the trier of fact. This fundamental role means that the jury is responsible for evaluating the evidence presented during the trial and making determinations about the credibility of witnesses and the weight of the evidence. The jury listens to the facts of the case, considers the arguments made by both the prosecution and the defense, and ultimately decides on the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

The judge oversees the trial process, ensuring that the law is correctly interpreted and applied, but does not typically engage in determining facts—this responsibility lies specifically with the jury in a jury trial setting. The prosecutor and the defendant each play roles in presenting their cases; however, they do not make the final determination regarding the meaning or interpretation of the facts. Thus, in the context of a jury trial, the correct identification of the trier of fact is indeed the jury.