Northern District of California Judge Charles Breyer left the white-collar community hanging Thursday when he declined to rule on a motion to acquit former Brocade Communications Systems chief executive Gregory Reyes of criminal charges related to stock option backdating. Breyer said he would reserve any decision for a later date.

“I could decide immediately, a week from now … before it goes to a jury or after,” the judge said, adding that he may decide not to rule at all.