The defendant in a murder trial here that had been running on and off for almost five years was convicted earlier this month. His attorneys filed a motion with the judge to order a new trial because they claim that the guilty verdict wasn't justified. All the evidence against him was circumstantial, and the defense lawyers claim that the jury didn't give enough consideration of their contention that someone else might have murdered the victim. They also say that they didn't have enough time to prepare.

I give them credit for going the last mile for the defendant, but I can't imagine the judge will order a new trial. Still, the judge agreed to hear the motion, which tells me that, under certain circumstances, a judge could overrule a jury's verdict shortly after conviction. I wonder: under what circumstances? And, could a judge overrule a not-guilty verdict and order a new trial (wouldn't that be double jeopardy)?