State Ex Rel. Dawson v. Superior Court

A petition for special action was filed by the Gila County Attorney with the concurrence of the Attorney General. He alleges that the respondent judge failed to comply with the provisions of Rule 20, 1973 Rules of Criminal Procedure, 17 A.R.S., and thereby abused his discretion. Rule 20 reads as follows:

“On motion of a defendant or on its own initiative, the court shall enter a judgment of acquittal of one or more offenses charged in an indictment, information, or complaint after the evidence on either side is closed or immediately after the verdict of the jury, if there is no substantial…