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- The meaning of acquit is a not guilty decision in criminal law
- Acquit and convict are opposite trial outcomes
- Beyond a reasonable doubt explains why acquittals can happen even when there is suspicion
- A federal judge can enter a judgment of acquittal under Rule 29
- The Double Jeopardy Clause is a key legal effect of an acquittal
- This infographic shows how acquit is commonly explained in court language
- People often confuse acquittals with dismissals and mistrials
- Common misunderstandings about what acquit means are very normal
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal and state: In criminal law, to acquit generally means a formal “not guilty” judgment at the end of a trial.
- Federal and state: A jury can acquit in a jury trial, and a judge can acquit in a bench trial.
- Federal and state: Acquittal is closely tied to the rule that the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases.
- Federal and state: “Acquitted” is the past tense of “acquit,” and it is commonly used as the acquitted definition for a person found not guilty.
- Federal level: Federal criminal procedure includes a “judgment of acquittal” when evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction.
- Federal and state: The Double Jeopardy Clause in the U.S. Constitution is commonly described as preventing a prosecutor from retrying a person for the same offense after an acquittal.
- State level: State criminal courts follow state procedural rules, and similar concepts to federal “judgment of acquittal” rules may exist but vary by state.
- Federal and state: An acquittal is different from other case endings such as dismissals or mistrials, which may not include a not guilty verdict.
As of January 2026, court rules and time limits described in this article may be amended, so official sources can change over time.
The meaning of acquit is a not guilty decision in criminal law
In everyday speech, “acquit” can sound like a general statement that someone is cleared. In criminal law, it has a narrower meaning: to acquit is the formal judgment of not guilty entered at the end of a trial when the jury, or a judge in a bench trial, finds that the prosecution did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acquit and convict are opposite trial outcomes
When a fact-finder concludes the prosecution proved the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the result is a conviction. When the prosecution’s proof is found insufficient to overcome reasonable doubt on the charged offense, the result is an acquittal.
Beyond a reasonable doubt explains why acquittals can happen even when there is suspicion
In U.S. criminal cases, “beyond a reasonable doubt” is the burden of proof required for a criminal conviction. This high burden helps explain why a court can acquit even when there is some evidence pointing toward guilt, because the question is whether the evidence overcame reasonable doubt as required by criminal law.
A federal judge can enter a judgment of acquittal under Rule 29
In federal criminal cases, a judge can enter a “judgment of acquittal” when the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction, which is addressed in Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29.
Rule 29 also includes a timing provision stating that a defendant may move for a judgment of acquittal (or renew such a motion) within 14 days after a guilty verdict or after the court discharges the jury, whichever is later.
The Double Jeopardy Clause is a key legal effect of an acquittal
The U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment contains the Double Jeopardy Clause, which protects against being subject to prosecution twice for the same offense, and acquittals are closely associated with that protection.
In plain language, an acquittal is commonly treated as ending the government’s chance to try the same offense again in the same system, which is one reason the word “acquit” has such a strong legal effect compared to some other ways a case can end.
This infographic shows how acquit is commonly explained in court language
People often confuse acquittals with dismissals and mistrials
An acquittal is a not guilty result on a charged offense after a trial decision on the merits. By contrast, a dismissal generally refers to a court ending a case without imposing liability on the defendant, and a mistrial generally refers to a trial ending without a final decision on the merits due to a serious error or a jury being unable to reach a verdict.
