true bill

noun

1. a bill of indictment endorsed by a grand jury as being sufficiently supported by evidence to justify a hearing of the case.

true bill

noun

1. criminal law (formerly in Britain; now only US) the endorsement made on a bill of indictment by a grand jury certifying it to be supported by sufficient evidence to warrant committing the accused to trial

Word History and Origins

Origin of true bill¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Prosecutors would need to convince at least 12 of the 23 jurors that there’s probable cause — more evidence for than against — that a person committed a crime to warrant a “true bill” of indictment.

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A “true bill” means the grand jurors have voted to indict because they think there is probable cause to believe that the person accused committed the alleged crimes.

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Wesley Shifflett, said prosecutors had sought an indictment for manslaughter over the shooting of Timothy McCree Johnson, but told him the panel would not issue a “true bill.”

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Russell Heard’s family and friends are understandably puzzled, upset and angry over the no true bill returned by the grand jury.

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On Thursday, a Caddo Parish grand jury returned a no true bill against Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, news outlets reported.

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