nolle prosequi
noun
nol·le pro·se·qui ˌnä-lē-ˈprä-sə-ˌkwī 
: an entry on the record of a legal action denoting that the prosecutor or plaintiff will proceed no further in an action or suit either as a whole or as to some count or as to one or more of several defendants
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web That procedural move was to have been followed by prosecutors dropping the matter, officially known as a nolle prosequi. 
Adrian Walker, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2020 Murder case ends On March 3, a judge granted a nolle prosequi request by prosecutors to dismiss the murder charges against Fotis Dulos, ending that criminal case. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2020 Rollins on Wednesday asked a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to step in and reverse Sinnott’s decision in a nolle prosequi case. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2019 The nolle prosequi is not an acquittal but an acknowledgement of the reality that the prosecution of Fotis Dulos cannot continue. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2020 Morrissey said his office Monday will file nolle prosequi, or nonprosecution, statements formally dismissing 50 cases. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Nov. 2019 The records indicate he was initially charged with felony first-degree assault upon his arrest on Nov. 30, but that a disposition of nolle prosequi was entered on Monday, meaning the state chose not to pursue that charge. Jon Kelvey, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 2 Dec. 2019 The city argues that a nolle prosequi does not count as a favorable termination. Stephanie Clifford, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2019 In a nolle prosequi, prosecutors hold the power to do away with the case. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2019 See More
Adrian Walker, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2020 Murder case ends On March 3, a judge granted a nolle prosequi request by prosecutors to dismiss the murder charges against Fotis Dulos, ending that criminal case. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2020 Rollins on Wednesday asked a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to step in and reverse Sinnott’s decision in a nolle prosequi case. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2019 The nolle prosequi is not an acquittal but an acknowledgement of the reality that the prosecution of Fotis Dulos cannot continue. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2020 Morrissey said his office Monday will file nolle prosequi, or nonprosecution, statements formally dismissing 50 cases. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Nov. 2019 The records indicate he was initially charged with felony first-degree assault upon his arrest on Nov. 30, but that a disposition of nolle prosequi was entered on Monday, meaning the state chose not to pursue that charge. Jon Kelvey, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 2 Dec. 2019 The city argues that a nolle prosequi does not count as a favorable termination. Stephanie Clifford, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2019 In a nolle prosequi, prosecutors hold the power to do away with the case. John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, to be unwilling to pursue
First Known Use
1681, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
nolle prosequi
noun
nolle pros·e·qui -ˈprä-sə-ˌkwī, -ˌkwē
: an entry in a criminal action denoting that the prosecutor will not prosecute the case further in whole or as to one or more of several counts or one or more of several defendants compare non prosequitur