Oh, I wasn't discussing that part; I should have been clearer; I was talking about if they were to find them guilty, a judge can set aside the verdict.
I have never been involved with anything like that and frankly am not involved in cases where that would be a course anybody I work for or with would have to ever avail themselves of.
I tried to Google it, but couldn't find anything pertaining to NC; did you?
Yes, a directed verdict could occur if there's a trial and they're found guilty. In that case, the judge changes the jury's verdict to "not guilty." The questions are, does NC have a legal capacity for factual finding of innocence when a jury acquits (possibly, is my guess), and also does it have procedural vehicle by which the court can find, after or as part of a dismissal of charges, that the defendants are factually innocent of the crime with which they were charged (probably not, is my guess), or that there is insufficient evidence to substantiate that a crime has been committed (probably yes, is my guess). No, I haven't googled any of that.