Directed Verdicts In Florida Drug Cases
If you have ever been on a Florida jury, you may be aware that the process differs somewhat from what is seen in the movies, but much of it remains the same. Jurors are not supposed to be influenced in terms of their verdict by anything but the evidence presented to them – but in rare cases, a judge may actually order a jury to acquit a defendant, without any deliberations taking place. This is known as a directed verdict, and while it is quite uncommon, it happens more in drug-related cases than in any other type of criminal trial.
Take These Charges Seriously
If you have been charged with a drug offense in Florida, it is important to understand how seriously you should take these charges. Florida’s history with drugs and drug crime has made the legal system prosecute these types of crimes aggressively, which means that state’s attorneys are more likely to prosecute drug crimes even if a case may not be airtight.
It is crucial to enlist an attorney who understands the ins and outs of drug cases, whether for possession, sale, or trafficking. Drug crimes usually revolve around the state’s attorney being able to establish both possession of the substance and the amount involved, as well as certain other factors – and if they are unable to do so, a conviction is impossible. In this situation, a directed verdict may be possible.
Guilty ”As A Matter Of Law”
A directed verdict is a rare occurrence, intended to save time for everyone involved in the case. The relevant statute holds that a directed verdict is appropriate when the evidence (and all appropriate inferences), interpreted in the light most favorable to the party not moving for a directed verdict, supports the movant’s case so strongly that the only logical choice is to grant the motion. In other words, when one party’s case is so strong that to rule against them would be unreasonable.
Thus, for example, if a state’s attorney utterly fails to establish what they need to establish for a conviction, a judge may order a directed verdict. The reason that they are rare is because in most cases, a state’s attorney will realize that the evidence against you is insufficient and drop the charges before they get to court. However, sometimes these cases do get to trial, particularly in drug-related cases, when evidence may be lacking, but a prosecution happens regardless.
Contact A West Palm Beach Drug Offenses Attorney
A directed verdict resulting in an acquittal is generally the best possible outcome of a criminal case, but given how rare they are, an experienced West Palm Beach drug offenses attorney from Perlet & Shiner, P.A. is a good person to have on your side. Contact our office today to speak to an attorney.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0800-0899/0893/Sections/0893.13.html
