indictment

Definition

A formal written accusation by a grand jury charging someone with a crime, the legal equivalent of being officially nominated for a very unwanted award. The 'd' is silent, unlike the defendant's attorney.

Example Usage

The grand jury returned an indictment on twelve counts of wire fraud after reviewing thousands of pages of evidence.

Origin

From Anglo-French 'enditer' meaning 'to write down' or 'accuse in writing'

Fun Fact

The grand jury only hears the prosecution's side, leading to the famous observation that a prosecutor could 'indict a ham sandwich' if they wanted to.

Source: Fifth Amendment to U.S. Constitution and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

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