Legal Definitions - fact-trier

A fact-trier (also commonly referred to as a fact-finder) is the person or group in a legal proceeding responsible for listening to the evidence presented by all parties and determining what actually happened. Their primary role is to establish the truth of the facts in dispute, such as whether a particular event occurred, who said or did what, or what a document truly means, based on the evidence presented. Once the facts are established, a judge then applies the relevant law to those determined facts to reach a legal conclusion or judgment.

• Example 1: Criminal Jury Trial

  In a criminal trial where a defendant is accused of assault, the jury serves as the fact-trier. They listen to testimony from the alleged victim, eyewitnesses, and the defendant, and they review physical evidence such as medical reports or surveillance footage. The jury's job is to decide *whether* the defendant physically attacked the victim, *whether* they intended to cause harm, and *whether* the prosecution has proven these facts beyond a reasonable doubt. They are not deciding if assault is illegal (that's a matter of law for the judge), but rather if the *facts* presented align with the legal definition of assault.

• Example 2: Civil Bench Trial

  Consider a civil lawsuit where a homeowner is suing a roofing company for breach of contract, claiming the new roof leaks. In a "bench trial" (a trial without a jury), the judge acts as the fact-trier. The judge will examine photographs of the roof, review the contract, hear testimony from the homeowner, the roofing company's owner, and potentially an independent roofing expert. The judge must determine *what* the contract terms were, *whether* the roof was installed correctly, *whether* the leaks are due to faulty workmanship, and *what* the reasonable cost of repairs would be, all based on the evidence. Only after establishing these facts will the judge apply contract law to decide if the roofing company is legally liable for damages.

• Example 3: Administrative Hearing

  When an individual applies for unemployment benefits and is initially denied, they might request an administrative hearing. In this setting, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) typically acts as the fact-trier. The ALJ reviews documents like employment records and termination notices, and hears testimony from the applicant and the former employer. The ALJ's role is to determine *whether* the applicant was fired for misconduct, *what* the specific circumstances of their departure were, and *whether* they are actively seeking new employment, all based on the evidence presented. The ALJ then applies the specific unemployment regulations to these determined facts to decide if benefits should be granted.