acquittal
Not guilty outcome
An acquittal is a formal judgment that someone is not guilty of a crime.
It typically comes from a jury verdict or judge's ruling after trial: The jury returned an acquittal on all charges.
Unlike a dismissal, an acquittal means the case was decided on its merits.
Once acquitted, a defendant cannot be retried for the same offense.
Cleared of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- dismissalRemoval from position
- clearingTreeless space in forest
vindication · judgment · finding · ruling · determination · pronouncement · decision · deliverance
Judicial examination of claims
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- juryLegal decision-making body
- judgeOne who decides
- defenseProtection against harm
prosecution · evidence · testimony · witness · deliberation · due process · adjudication · defendant
Official clearing of blame
- clearedFound not guilty
- blamelessFree of wrongdoing
- guiltlessNot at fault
- vindicatedCleared of accusation
wrongful accusation · mistaken identity · alibi · unblemished
Freed from a load
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
- freedomAbsence of constraint
liberation · closure · peace · reassurance · sigh of relief · second chance · new beginning · fresh start
not guilty
Cleared of charges
- exonerationOfficial clearing of blame
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- dismissalRemoval from position
clearing · vindication · judgment · finding · ruling · determination · pronouncement · decision · deliverance · liberation
trial
Judicial examination of claims
defense · prosecution · evidence · testimony · witness · deliberation · due process · adjudication · defendant · counsel
exoneration
Official clearing of blame
vindicated · wrongful accusation · mistaken identity · alibi · unblemished
unburdened
Freed from a load
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- deliveranceRescue from bondage
freedom · liberation · closure · peace · reassurance · sigh of relief · second chance · new beginning · fresh start
- trial systemsjury trial, bench trial, grand jury, criminal trial, civil trial
- courtroomjudge, jury, oath taking, lawyer, bench
- justice in filmscourtroom drama, judge, jury, lawyer, prosecutor
- legal themes in fictioncourtroom drama, jury duty, wrongful accusation, verdict, conviction
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- court termscourt, courts, judge, judges, trial
acquittalconviction
Firmly held belief
guilty verdict · condemnation · incrimination · sentence · sentencing