Legal Definitions - prosequi

Definition: To follow up or pursue; to sue or prosecute. See NOLLE PROSEQUI.

NOLLE PROSEQUI

Definition: A legal notice that a lawsuit or prosecution has been abandoned. It is a formal entry on the record by the prosecuting officer by which he declares that he will not prosecute the case further, either as to some of the counts of the indictment, or as to part of a divisible count, or as to some of the persons accused, or altogether. It is a judicial determination in favor of accused and against his conviction, but it is not an acquittal, nor is it equivalent to a pardon.

Examples:

• The prosecutor decided to prosequi the case against the defendant.
• The state entered a nolle prosequi, abandoning the charges against the accused.

The first example illustrates the use of "prosequi" as a verb, meaning to pursue or prosecute a case. The second example shows the use of "nolle prosequi" as a legal notice that a case has been abandoned by the prosecution.