Alabama Code Rules of Criminal Procedure RCRP Rule 20.1

(a) NATURE OF MOTION. The court, on motion of the defendant stating the grounds therefor, or on its own motion, shall direct the entry of a judgment of acquittal as to any charged offense, or as to any lesser included offense, for which the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

(b) FORM OF MOTION. Motions for judgment of acquittal may be made either in writing or orally upon the record and shall be argued outside the hearing of the jury;  except that motions pursuant to Rule 20.3 shall be in writing.