When is a bench trial considered to have begun?

A Jury Trial is considered to have begun when the jury is sworn in, but when is a trial considered to have begun if there is no jury?

2009-11-12T16:40:55Z

Would this statement be accurate?

A bench trial is considered to have begun when the first witness has been sworn.

or would it be false because some cases may not have witnesses?

Matt2009-11-12T16:55:06Z

Favorite Answer

When the first witness is sworn.

Caoedhen2009-11-13T00:38:02Z

When the judge says "you may be seated".