Rule 3.680 Judgment on Informal Verdict

When a jury gives a verdict that has problems with its wording, a judge can still use it if the meaning is clear. If it is obvious the jury meant to find someone not guilty, the judge must declare the person not guilty, even if the verdict was not worded correctly.

However, the opposite is not true when it comes to a guilty verdict. A judge cannot find someone guilty based on a flawed verdict. The jury must clearly and directly state that they found the person guilty before a judge can convict them.

This rule protects defendants by making sure they cannot be convicted on a technicality or a vague verdict. A "not guilty" finding gets the benefit of the doubt, but a "guilty" finding must be stated plainly.