when can a case be heard only by a judge
Jury trial
Some jurisdictions with jury trials allow the defendant to waive their right to a jury trial , thus leading to a bench trial . Jury trials tend to occur only when a crime is considered serious . In some jurisdictions , such as France and Brazil , jury trials are reserved , and compulsory , for the most severe crimes and are not available for civil cases . In Brazil , for example , trials by jury are applied in cases of voluntary crimes against life , such as first and second degree murder , forced abortion and instigation of suicide , even if only attempted . In others , such as the United Kingdom , jury trials are only available for criminal cases and very specific civil cases ( defamation , malicious prosecution , civil fraud and false imprisonment ) . In the United States , jury trials are available in both civil and criminal cases . In Canada , an individual charged with an indictable offence may elect to be tried by a judge alone in a provincial court , by judge alone in a superior court , or by judge and jury in a superior court ; summary offences can not be tried by jury . 
Some jurisdictions with jury trials allow the defendant to waive their right to a jury trial , thus leading to a bench trial . Jury trials tend to occur only when a crime is considered serious . In some jurisdictions , such as France and Brazil , jury trials are reserved , and compulsory , for the most severe crimes and are not available for civil cases . In Brazil , for example , trials by jury are applied in cases of voluntary crimes against life , such as first and second degree murder , forced abortion and instigation of suicide , even if only attempted . In others , such as the United Kingdom , jury trials are only available for criminal cases and very specific civil cases ( defamation , malicious prosecution , civil fraud and false imprisonment ) . In the United States , jury trials are available in both civil and criminal cases . In Canada , an individual charged with an indictable offence may elect to be tried by a judge alone in a provincial court , by judge alone in a superior court , or by judge and jury in a superior court ; summary offences can not be tried by jury .
Some jurisdictions with jury trials allow the defendant to waive their right to a jury trial , thus leading to a bench trial .
In Canada , an individual charged with an indictable offence may elect to be tried by a judge alone in a provincial court, or by judge alone in a superior court.
Some jurisdictions with jury trials allow the defendant to waive their right to a jury trial , thus leading to a bench trial . In Canada , an individual charged with an indictable offence may elect to be tried by a judge alone in a provincial court , by judge alone in a superior court , or by judge and jury in a superior court ; summary offences can not be tried by jury .