[not_apathetic_anymore]

There can never be a directed verdict of guilty in a criminal trial. NEVER! An acquittal by a jury in a criminal trial is always the final say as to that charge. ALWAYS!

But if the judge disagrees with the jury he/she can set aside the jury verdict? I'm asking. IIRC there was some such brouhaha over the British Nanny Shaking death MA a few years ago?

[Iwo Jima]

A judge can direct a verdict of not guilty if a jury votes to convict, but that is rarely done. A judge can NEVER direct a verdict of guilty in a criminal jury trial. It's unheard of and unthinkable.

Just think about yourself being on trial and the jury finding you not guilty and the judge saying "Well, so what?I think that you are guilty anyway so you're going to jail." Not justice, is it?

[SarahW]

A judge can set aside a jury verdict if he finds they did not have sufficient evidence to render a GUILTY verdict.

A judge can never substitute a guilty verdict for a jury's not-guilty verdict.