R.I. Super. R. Crim. P. 28 (2026)

28. Expert Witnesses and Interpreters. — (a) Expert Witnesses. The court may on its own motion or upon the motion of a party order the defendant or the State or both to show cause why expert witnesses should not be appointed, and may request the parties to submit nominations. The court may appoint any expert witnesses agreed upon by the parties, and may appoint witnesses of its own selection. An expert witness shall not be appointed by the court unless the expert witness consents to act. A witness so appointed shall be informed of the witness' duties by the court in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the clerk, or at a conference in which the parties shall have opportunity to participate. A witness so appointed shall advise the parties of the witness' findings, if any, and may thereafter be called to testify by the court or by any party. The witness shall be subject to cross-examination by each party. The court may determine the reasonable compensation of such a witness and may direct that it be paid either by the State or by the party who moved for appointment. The parties also may call expert witnesses of their own selection. (b) Interpreters. The court may appoint an interpreter of its own selection. Compensation for interpreters shall be paid by the State.

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29. Motion for Judgment of Acquittal and Motion to Dismiss. — (a) Motion for judgment of acquittal. (1) Motion Before Submission to Jury. The court on motion for a judgment of acquittal of a defendant or on the court's own motion shall order the entry of judgment of acquittal of one (1) or more offenses charged in the indictment, information, or complaint, after the evidence on either side is closed, if the evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction of such offense or offenses. If a defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of the evidence offered by the State is not granted, the defendant may offer evidence without having reserved the right. (2) Reservation of Decision on Motion. If a motion for judgment of acquittal is made at the close of all the evidence, the court may reserve decision on the motion, submit the case to the jury, and decide the motion either before the jury returns a verdict or after it returns a verdict of guilty or is discharged without having returned a verdict. (b) Motion to dismiss. In a case tried without a jury, a motion to dismiss may be filed at the close of the State's case to challenge the legal sufficiency of the State's trial evidence.