{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "scpa", "section": "503", "citation": "SCPA § 503", "heading": "Proceedings upon jury trial 1", "text": ["§ 503. Proceedings upon jury trial", "1.  At any time during trial the court upon motion of any party or on its own initiative may direct judgment on one or more issues whenever it determines as a matter of law that the evidence is insufficient to create an issue of fact for a jury on such issue.  Whenever judgment is so directed the issue shall thereupon be deemed withdrawn from the jury and it shall render no verdict or finding thereon.  The direction of the court shall be entered in the minutes.", "2.  On consent of the parties any issue may be likewise withdrawn from a jury and judgment directed thereon.", "3.  The verdict and any order or decision of the court shall be entered in the minutes and if the trial was not held in the surrogate's court the verdict, order or decision shall be certified by the clerk of the court to the surrogate's court, whereupon that court shall enter a final decree accordingly."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SCP/503", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "How the court handles issues during a jury trial and enters the result.\n- **(1)** At **any time during trial**, on a party's motion or **on its own**, the court may **direct judgment** on an issue when, as a matter of law, the evidence is **insufficient to create a jury question**. That issue is **withdrawn from the jury**, which renders **no verdict** on it; the direction is entered in the minutes. ★\n- **(2)** On the **parties' consent**, any issue may likewise be withdrawn from the jury and judgment directed.\n- **(3)** The verdict and any order or decision are **entered in the minutes**. If the trial was **not held in the Surrogate's Court**, the clerk of the trial court **certifies** them to the Surrogate's Court, which then enters a **final decree** accordingly. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/scpa/503", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}