Steve Friedland, professor of law and senior scholar, talked with WFMY reporter Justin Quesinberry Dec. 6 about a recent murder conviction dismissal in Guilford County.
A judge overturned the conviction of Mary Elizabeth Roach moments after a jury found her guilty of killing Hailey Rae Resch in 2005. While rare, Friedland said trial judges will sometimes overturn a jury’s verdict if it is not consistent with the law that applies to a particular case.
“The judge is responsible for the law,” Friedland said. “The jury really judges the facts. So sometimes, even though the juries come back with a verdict, it’s up to the judge to correct it if he feels this is not consistent with the law.”