Who is primarily responsible for determining both facts and law in trial courts?

In trial courts, judges hold the primary responsibility for determining both the facts of a case and the applicable law. Judges oversee the proceedings, ensuring that legal standards and rules of procedure are followed. They make rulings on what evidence can be presented, instruct the jurors on the law, and ultimately assess the legal implications of the facts as they emerge during the trial.

While jurors play a crucial role by weighing the evidence presented and reaching a verdict based on their understanding of the facts, they do so under the guidance of the judge. The judge interprets the law, applies it to the facts as found by the jury, and provides critical legal context to the jurors' deliberations. Justices typically serve in appellate courts, focusing on decisions made by trial courts, while lawyers advocate for their clients but do not determine facts or law independently in a trial setting. Therefore, the judge serves as the key figure in establishing both the factual and legal framework within trial courts.