Why Waive a Jury? Inside a Recent Judge Trial Decision | Lawyer Talk Q&A

Lawyer Talk: Off the Record

If you want to know what goes into courtroom decision-making when the pressure is on, you’ll want to hear this one.

Welcome back to Lawyer Talk! I'm Steve Palmer, and in this episode, I’m giving you an inside look at a recent trial I just finished—one that didn’t have a jury.

Instead, my client and I made the tough decision to waive his right to a jury trial, choosing to have a judge decide his fate. I’ll walk you through exactly why I rarely take cases in front of just a judge, what made this case unique, and the careful reasoning behind our strategy—especially when there are tricky legal technicalities involved. I’ll also share some thoughts on what it really means to get a fair trial, whether it’s with a jury or a judge.

Three key takeaways:

• Strategic Choice Matters: Opting for a bench (judge-only) trial can be the right path when a case hinges on a nuanced, technical legal issue that a jury might not fully grasp.
• Deep Client Collaboration: The decision isn’t made lightly. It involves honest conversations about risks, pros, and cons, making sure the client is 100% involved all the way.
• Presentation Still Counts: While the theatrics are toned down for a judge, it’s crucial to present evidence clearly and treat the judge as the "fact finder"—advocating with the same intensity as if speaking to a jury.

Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Call 614-859-2119 and leave us a voicemail. Steve will answer your question on the next podcast!

Submit your questions to www.lawyertalkpodcast.com.

Recorded at Channel 511.

Stephen E. Palmer, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense almost exclusively since 1995. He has represented people in federal, state, and local courts in Ohio and elsewhere.

Though he focuses on all areas of criminal defense, he particularly enjoys complex cases in state and federal courts.

He has unique experience handling and assembling top defense teams of attorneys and experts in cases involving allegations of child abuse (false sexual allegations, false physical abuse allegations), complex scientific cases involving allegations of DUI and vehicular homicide cases with blood alcohol tests, and any other criminal cases that demand jury trial experience.

Steve has unique experience handling numerous high-publicity cases that have garnered national attention.

For more information about Steve and his law firm, visit Palmer Legal Defense.

Copyright 2025 Stephen E. Palmer - Attorney At Law

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Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants

Circle 270 Media® is a podcast consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio, specializing in helping businesses develop, launch, and optimize podcasts as part of their marketing strategy. The firm emphasizes the importance of storytelling through podcasting to differentiate businesses and engage with their audiences effectively. www.circle270media.com