NEW YORK, NY January 25, 2008 —The Sean Bell case will be decided by a judge, not a jury. The three detectives charged in the case requested a bench trial today, and a state supreme court justice formalized the arrangement.

The detectives had originally requested that the trial be moved outside of Queens, arguing that the publicity surrounding Bell's death would make it hard to seat an impartial jury. But an appellate court turned down that request two days ago.

Civil rights leader Al Sharpton appeared with Bell's fiance to denounce the switch to a bench trial, saying the officers should face a jury of their peers.