In the upcoming antitrust trial, a judge rather than a jury will decide whether Google violated federal antitrust laws by monopolizing online advertising technology. The decision by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema was a setback for the Justice Department, which had initially sought a jury trial in the case filed last year in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. The government's request for a jury trial was primarily based on the claim for monetary damages, but Google's payment of over $2 million to cover the government's damages claim rendered the need for a jury trial unnecessary. The government had alleged that Google's anticompetitive conduct led to overcharging federal agencies for online ads. Despite arguments from Justice Department lawyers that the payment did not fully address the damages claim, Judge Brinkema ruled in favor of Google. The case in Virginia is separate from another antitrust case in the District of Columbia involving Google's alleged monopoly in search engine technology.", }