Final answer:
A motion for a directed verdict is a request for the judge to rule that the opposing party's evidence is too weak to support a verdict, effectively ending the trial early. It can occur in civil and criminal trials and operates under the Seventh Amendment's protections of the jury's role in fact-finding.
Step-by-step explanation:
A motion for a directed verdict, also known as motion for judgment as a matter of law, is a legal request made during a trial, requesting the judge to rule that the opposing party has insufficient evidence to reasonably support its case. This motion can be made in both civil and criminal trials. It essentially argues that, even when considering all evidence in the light most favorable to the opposing party, there is a lack of legally sufficient evidentiary foundation to sustain a verdict in the opponent's favor.
In criminal cases, the burden of proof requires the prosecution to prove its case "beyond a reasonable doubt". For civil cases, the plaintiff needs to prove the case "beyond a preponderance of the evidence". If the court grants a motion for a directed verdict, it results in a judgment for the moving party without the need for the jury to deliberate.
The Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution underscores the distinction between the roles of the judge and the jury. It preserves the common-law right to a jury trial where the value in controversy exceeds twenty dollars and enforces that no fact tried by a jury shall be re-examined by any U.S. court other than in accordance with the rules of common law, meaning the jury's findings on factual issues are generally binding.