State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Eddie Collier, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the trial court's directed verdict on the contributing‑to‑delinquency charge was not harmless error as to the rape conviction and therefore reversed the judgment of conviction, vacated the judgment, and remanded for a new trial. The Court emphasized that a criminal trial court may not direct a guilty verdict, as it infringes the constitutional right to a jury trial.