Also known as: acquittals in law · acquittal
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A form of acquittal that arises by operation of law rather than from a jury verdict or factual finding of not guilty. It occurs automatically when a legal rule or prior determination eliminates the basis for liability against the accused.
Austin Abbott faced charges for arson after setting a fire during a delusional episode caused by longstanding schizophrenia. Medical evidence showed he would not have committed the act but for the mental disease. The court entered an acquittal in law under the applicable test for mental disease or defect.
Amber Alonzo was tried for first-degree murder. The trier of fact returned a guilty verdict on the lesser included offense of manslaughter. This result operated as an acquittal in law on the greater charge even after the manslaughter conviction was later set aside.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Alexandra Armstrong's conviction for fraud was reversed on appeal because the prosecution's evidence failed as a matter of law to support the verdict. The reversal functioned as an acquittal in law and barred any retrial on the same charges.
Alice Atkins moved for judgment after the government rested its case on a theft charge. The evidence was insufficient to prove the required intent element. The court entered a judgment of acquittal in law that ended the prosecution.
Ariana Azizi was charged with assault after an episode of impulse dyscontrol stemming from documented bipolar disorder. Evidence established she could not conform her conduct to the law because of the mental illness. The court granted an acquittal in law under the traditional test.
Aisha Ahmed was acquitted in federal court on charges arising from a single transaction. The state then attempted to prosecute her for the identical conduct. The prior acquittal operated as an acquittal in law that barred the subsequent prosecution under the applicable double-jeopardy rule.
An acquittal in law arises automatically from a legal rule or prior determination such as a principal's acquittal or a finding of insufficient evidence. An acquittal in fact results from a jury verdict or trier-of-fact determination of not guilty on the merits.
Supporting sources
Yes. When a conviction is reversed on appeal solely because the evidence was legally insufficient, the reversal is treated as an acquittal in law that bars retrial under double jeopardy principles.
A conviction on a lesser included offense operates as an acquittal in law on the greater inclusive offense even if the lesser conviction is later set aside.
Yes. A court must enter a judgment of acquittal when the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction, and that judgment functions as an acquittal in law that ends the case.
Yes. When a defendant receives an acquittal because the offense resulted from mental disease or because mental illness prevented conforming conduct to the law, the result is an acquittal in law by operation of the governing test.
…State could appeal since the judgment below directed that he be retried. In the event respondent was successful in obtaining an acquittal on retrial, however, under California law the State would have no appeal. Satisfied that in these circumstances the decision below constituted a final judgment under 28 U. S. C. § 1257 (3)…