Whenever the statutes or laws of this state authorize or require the jury to ascertain or determine certain facts, to make certain findings or to fix the amount of damages, the value of property or the value of the use, hire or rent of property and a jury trial is waived or the court or judge trying the case is authorized to find and determine the facts as well as the law, then the word "jury" or "juries" shall be held to include the court or judge so trying the case.
Ala. Code § 12-16-1 (1975)