People v. Johnson

Summary

The court held that a trial court must decide a defendant’s midtrial motion for a directed verdict before proceeding to the defense’s evidence, although it may take a recess before ruling. The court nevertheless affirmed because the defendant forfeited the issue, the evidence was not closely balanced, and the error did not constitute second-prong plain error. The court declined to reach the defendant’s constitutional arguments because the case could be resolved on nonconstitutional grounds.