Motions for Judgment of Acquittal

• Library: Objections Guidebook (2022 Ed.)

Motions for Judgment of Acquittal

· Rule 27.07(c) permits the court, if a motion for judgment of acquittal is made or renewed within 15 days after return of the verdict or the jury is discharged, to set aside the jury’s verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal for the defendant. The time period of 15 days may be extended by the court for an additional 10 days. Also, if no verdict was returned, the court may enter judgment of acquittal. The Rule provides that it shall not be necessary to the making of a motion for judgment of acquittal that a similar motion has been made prior to submission of the case to the jury. Also, under Rule 27.07(b), if a motion for judgment of acquittal is made at the close of all the evidence, the court may reserve decision on the motion, submit the case to the jury, and decide the motion either before the jury returns a verdict or after it returns a...