Legal Definitions - fact-trier

Definition: A fact-trier is a person or group of people who are responsible for hearing testimony and reviewing evidence to make a decision on a factual issue. This can include jurors in a trial or administrative-law judges in a hearing.

Examples:

• In a criminal trial, the jury serves as the fact-trier, listening to witness testimony and reviewing evidence to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
• In an employment discrimination case, an administrative-law judge may serve as the fact-trier, hearing testimony from both the employer and employee and reviewing evidence to determine whether discrimination occurred.

These examples illustrate how fact-triers are responsible for making decisions based on the evidence presented to them. They must carefully consider all of the information before them and make a determination based on the facts of the case.