Q: Why would someone elect to have a jury decide a Virginia DUI / DWI case instead of a judge?

A: In my experience, when there is a preference for having a jury trial over a judge trial it is because some people believe jurors may be less jaded, and bring more of an open mind to the table than judges who hear case after case day after day.  Another potentially attractive aspect of a jury trial is that at the end of a judge trial, only the judge has to be convinced that you are guilty, but at the end of a jury trial, all of the jurors have to agree that you are guilty.  If just one juror believes that the case against you has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, you can not be found guilty.