# You're Aileen Cannon. What are the downsides of a directed verdict?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-aileen-cannon-what-are-the-downsides-of-a-directed-verdict/985483>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [June 14, 2023, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-aileen-cannon-what-are-the-downsides-of-a-directed-verdict/985483 "2023-06-14T09:31:23Z")\
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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-aileen-cannon-what-are-the-downsides-of-a-directed-verdict/985483/13 "2023-06-15T21:36:42Z")

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I did some searching and apparently the crimes in the indictment do not carry any mandatory minimum sentences. So in theory, it would be legal for it to be a slap of the wrist, or really nothing.

That seems a bit scary. But, while a “not guilty” verdict can’t be appealed by the prosecution, a sentence can be appealed. If he’s found guilty of all charges by the jury and the judge decides that he is fined $100 as the sentence, that **can** be appealed.

Note that this isn’t the same as a directed verdict.

> [@slicedalone](#):
>
> I believe this no-punishment is not subject to any appeal or review.

> **[When the Government Seeks to Appeal Your Criminal Sentence | Corey Evan...](https://theappellatelawfirm.com/blog/government-seeks-appeal-criminal-sentence/)**
>
> One of the key bedrocks of our criminal justice system at both the state and federal level is the constitutional guarantee against double jeopardy. This means that prosecutors cannot bring a second criminal trial against you if you have been declared...

> Although prosecutors are not able to appeal a not guilty verdict, they are able to appeal when a judge hands down a criminal sentence that they do not believe meets the legal standards for what the law should impose for your particular conviction.

> At the federal level, there are federal sentencing guidelines which are instituted for the very purpose of preventing judges from handing down overly lenient sentences. These guidelines are quite complex in nature, and, among other things, give judges the ability to consider facts outside of the actual conviction in sentencing a defendant.
> 
> Thus, a federal prosecutor might seek to appeal for a longer sentence if he or she believes the trial court judge failed to follow the federal sentencing guidelines or some other applicable sentencing rule.

And it has been ruled that appealing a sentence for being too light is not considered double jeopardy.

[https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/double-jeopardy-limits-prosecutorial-appeal-sentences](https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/double-jeopardy-limits-prosecutorial-appeal-sentences)

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