Also known as: no bills · no-bill · no true bill · ignoramus
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A grand jury's notation that insufficient evidence exists for an indictment on a criminal charge. The notation ends the prosecution's effort to obtain an indictment on the proposed charge.
Prosecutors presented evidence to a federal grand jury that Nigel Nelson had misused escrow funds in several real estate deals. After hearing the witnesses, fewer than twelve jurors voted to indict. The foreperson recorded a no bill on the proposed charge, and the case against Nelson ended without an indictment being returned.
A state grand jury investigated whether Nolan Nunez, a city official, had accepted bribes from contractors. The prosecutor presented testimony and documents over several days. When the vote was taken, a majority declined to indict. The grand jury returned a no bill, and Nunez faced no criminal charges from that investigation.
Federal prosecutors asked a grand jury to indict Nordic Ventures executives for allegedly leaking classified documents to the press. The grand jury heard extensive testimony but concluded the evidence did not establish probable cause. It returned a no bill on all proposed counts, preventing any indictment from being filed.
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A single-judge grand jury heard testimony from Nora Nash concerning alleged embezzlement at her former employer. After the presentation, the judge-grand jury determined the evidence was insufficient. The proceeding ended with a no bill, and no charges were brought against Nash.
The grand jury records that the evidence is insufficient to support an indictment. This ends the prosecution's effort to charge the defendant on the proposed counts.
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Federal practice requires the affirmative vote of at least twelve grand jurors. A failure to reach that threshold results in a no bill.
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No. Once the grand jury returns a no bill, the prosecutor cannot obtain an indictment on the same charge from that grand jury. The prosecutor may present the matter to a new grand jury in some jurisdictions.
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No. A no bill reflects the grand jury's independent determination that probable cause is lacking. A judicial dismissal occurs after an indictment has already been returned and is subject to different procedural rules.
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…use language applicable only to congress: others are expressed in general terms. The third clause, for example, declares that “no bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.” No language can be more general; yet the demonstration is complete that it applies solely to the government of the United States. In…