If there is no jury in a trial, what is it often referred to as?

When there is no jury present in a trial, it is referred to as a bench trial. In a bench trial, the judge takes on the role of the fact-finder, evaluating the evidence presented and making a determination based solely on that evidence. This contrasts with a jury trial, where a group of peers is responsible for deliberating and reaching a verdict based on the presented facts.

A bench trial can often be more streamlined than a jury trial since it eliminates the need for jury selection, jury instructions, and other processes related to having a jury present. This can make bench trials less time-consuming in certain situations.

Arbitration involves a neutral third party making a binding decision outside of the court system, and a summary trial is typically used as a means to expedite the litigation process and is not a full trial. Therefore, the correct terminology when describing a trial without a jury is indeed a bench trial.