acquittal, n. 1. The legal certification, usu. by jury verdict, that an accused person is not guilty of the charged offense. acquittal in fact. An acquittal by a jury verdict of not guilty. acquittal in law. An acquittal by operation of law, as of someone who has been charged merely as an accessory after the […]
motion for judgment of acquittal. A criminal defendant’s request, at the close of the government’s case or the close of all evidence, to be acquitted because there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis on which a reasonable jury could return a guilty verdict. • If the motion is granted, the government has no right of
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A judgment, rendered on the defendant’s motion or court’s own motion, that acquits the defendant of the offense charged when the evidence is insufficient. Fed. R. Crim. P. 29. See directed verdict under VERDICT. [Cases: Criminal Law 753.2. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1276.]
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acquitted, adj. 1. Judicially discharged from an accusation; absolved. 2. Released from a debt.