There are jury trials and there are bench (judge) trials. Varies by jurisdiction but if both options are available (which is not always, e.g. for some minor misdemeanor crimes, or divorce cases, etc you may not even have the jury option) then usually the defendant can choose. I guess in this case Trump or his lawyers thought it would be easier to deal with a judge and chose a bench trial.
It wasn't a bench trial, I don't think, and it wasn't something Trump agreed to allow to happen. Since it's a non federal civil case there is no right to a jury trial. If it were a criminal case, or a federal civil case, he would have a right. But instead the fraud will just be an established fact that the jury will consider when deciding on what the damages are at the trial. There was overwhelming evidence, and the only defense attempts were nonsensical, so there was really nothing to deliberate when it comes to whether or not Trump is a fraud.
The same thing happened in Rudys slander case but for another reason. He didn't turn over the documents and other evidence he was legally required to, so the judge found him liable and the trial will proceed to determine damages. But that belongs in the Kraken thread.
It seems that Trump himself wanted to get a jury - or that is the official version, because getting jury would mean a much wider spread of news and there is always a chance of getting a massive punitive damage.
250 million is a significant amount. Trump real assets are unknow - which funnily enough is linked to his fraud - but a quarter of a billion is not a slap in the hand, is more like cutting a finger. I wonder if he is going to be able to carry business using a loophole, because he has lost his licence to.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-no-jury-bench-trial-ny-fraud-case-paperwork-2023-10?r=US&IR=T#:~:text=Trump%20isn't%20getting%20a,failed%20to%20ask%20for%20one&text=Former%20President%20Donald%20Trump%20was,correctly%20fill%20out%20court%20paperwork.
Yeah I was wrong in the post above yours. I thought there already was a jury, but I guess the law the DA used to sue him says a judge should rule from the bench, but I guess maybe there will be a jury? When Trump walked out after attacking the judge and prosecutor for 5 minutes he said he agreed with what the judge said at the end and implied there will be a jury...?
Also I think the risk to lose all his ability to do any buisness in NY might be bigger than the potentially 250m fine. Trump Tower, Trump Wall street, his Columbus circle building, the ice skating rink in central park, he really is all over the city...they would all be liquidated I assume. And remember he was born in Queens and lived in NYC till a couple years ago, his father started the business and his sons are taking it over (although to be fair, Celebrity Apprentice is why he isn't broke today, not the Trump Org).
It's weird thinking back when Trump was just another NYC character.
Edit:
Update: It turns out the reason there was no jury is most competent lawyers won't work for Trump and he fired all the ones that will. In other words, his lawyers forgot to request a jury in the paperwork.
“Mind-blowing”: Legal experts warn that lawyer’s incredible “screw-up” is “very ominous” for Trump
https://news.yahoo.com/mind-blowing-legal-experts-warn-171808012.html
Also I now realize that this trial is off topic since this thread is about the trial in Georgia (not to be confused with other trial in NY, or the one in Miami, or the one in DC, or the one where he keeps defaming the woman he's already been found liable for sexual assaulting and defaming).