can a judge overrule a jury?
Can a Judge Overrule a Jury Verdict? In any trial, the judgeâs decision and opinion has higher authority than anyone else. The fact of the matter is that a judge is an expert on the law and the jury is not. The judge can overturn a guilty verdict and find the defendant not guilty, but not the other way around. Instead of overturning a guilty verdict, the judge can order a new trial.