All crimes against the U.S., except for impeachment, require a JURY TRAIL.
"The Trail of all Crimes, except in Cases of impeachment, shall be by Jury" -Federal Constitution
It's always good to know what your rights are. If you're accused of a crime, you do have the right to try to "fight" the charge. Keep in mind that this only applies to "serious" offenses (which is considered over 6 months of imprisonment). Petty charges will not qualify.