Possibly. There is no way to predict the outcome of any Nevada trial, but in some cases having a judge instead of a jury act as the trier of fact may render a more favorable verdict for the defendant.
Like it sounds, a bench trial in Nevada is where the presiding judge and not a jury renders a verdict. Everyone charged with a crime is entitled to a bench trial in Nevada no matter whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony. Jury trials are available only to defendants who face a possible sentence of more than six months. (2019 UPDATE: People charged with misdemeanor battery domestic violence in Nevada are also entitled to a jury trial.)
It is a generally-held belief in Nevada that a jury of twelve peers can deliver a fairer verdict than a judge who may either be cynical about the justice system, unable to separate the present case from similar past cases, or have a dislike of the defense attorney based on prior dealings. However, there are some circumstances which suggest that a judge would do a more just job than a jury…
If the case involves an emotionally charged issue such as child abuse or sexual assault, a jury may be too overcome with emotion to acquit the defendant even if the facts support his/her innocence. In contrast, a seasoned Nevada judge has considerable experience presiding over disturbing cases and may easily suspend his/her emotion in order to accurately apply the facts to the law. Read more about bench trials in Nevada and our article, “Can I write my own jury instructions in Nevada?“
