Opinion ID: 2619530
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reservation of Decision on Motion for Judgment of Acquittal.

Text: An apparent error was committed by the trial judge, although it was not specified as such by the defendants. The Hawaii Rules of Criminal Procedure do not appear to provide for the reservation of a decision on a motion for judgment of acquittal which is made following the close of the prosecution's evidence. See H.R.Cr.P., Rule 29(a). The only provision in the rules for reservation of decision relates to a motion made following the close of all the evidence. H.R.Cr.P., Rule 29(b). It would seem, therefore, that all motions for judgment of acquittal made at the close of the prosecution's evidence should be decided by the judge before the trial continues. If the evidence presented by the prosecution is insufficient to sustain a conviction, the State has not met its burden of proof, and I have serious doubts about forcing a defendant in such circumstances to go through the needless and burdensome task of meeting the charges against him. See Jackson v. United States, 250 F.2d 897 (5th Cir.1958).