Final answer:
Studies suggest plaintiffs generally have more success with judges rather than juries in civil rights and labor disputes, largely due to the preponderance of evidence standard used in civil cases. Option b is the answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of judicial and jury decision-making in civil cases reveals that plaintiffs may have different outcomes depending on whether they are in front of a judge or a jury. According to at least one study, plaintiffs had more success with judges than juries in cases involving civil rights and labor disputes. This is in part because in civil court, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to establish the case by a preponderance of the evidence, which means the evidence must weigh more heavily on their side than the defendant's. The decision between opting for a jury trial or a bench trial (a trial without a jury) may significantly affect the outcome, especially in cases involving substantial amounts of money or property, where a jury may be more sympathetic to social considerations as opposed to strict legal interpretations.