indictments
Grand jury charges
Indictments are formal accusations, typically issued by a grand jury, charging someone with a crime serious enough to warrant a trial.
The word carries weight beyond its legal meaning: to say someone faces indictment suggests not just accusation but the gravity of official proceedings.
In figurative use, indictment can describe any severe criticism or condemnation: The report was an indictment of the company's safety practices.
The grand jury returned indictments against three executives.
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- charge sheetDocument listing criminal accusations
true bill · information · count · criminal charge · formal accusation · presentment · federal charges · complaint
Investigative charging body
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- district attorneyCounty's chief prosecuting officer
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- defendantParty facing charges
testimony · evidence · witness · subpoena · plea · guilty · conviction · acquittal
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
racketeering · extortion · fraud · conspiracy · public corruption · abuse of power · obstruction · cover-up
Judicial proceedings chamber
- juryLegal decision-making body
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgeOne who decides
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
defense · docket · litigation · bench trial · appeal · sentencing · judgment · adjudication
Fair treatment under law
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- criminal liabilityLegally answerable for offenses
culpability · consequences · redress · answerability · holding accountable · transparency · oversight · whistleblower
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
charge sheet · true bill · information · count · criminal charge · formal accusation · presentment · federal charges · complaint · arraignment
grand jury
Investigative charging body
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- district attorneyCounty's chief prosecuting officer
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
defendant · testimony · evidence · witness · subpoena · plea · guilty · conviction · acquittal · cross-examination
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- graftIllicit political gain
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
money laundering · racketeering · extortion · fraud · conspiracy · public corruption · abuse of power · obstruction · cover-up · RICO
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
deliberation · defense · docket · litigation · bench trial · appeal · sentencing · judgment · adjudication · gavel
justice
Fair treatment under law
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
criminal liability · culpability · consequences · redress · answerability · holding accountable · transparency · oversight · whistleblower · exposure
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- international lawinternational law, treaty, treaties, conventions, protocols
- court recordscourt documents, court transcripts, court records, court cases, court record
- courtroom itemsevidence, gavel, witness stand, documents, legal briefs
- crime recordscriminal records, arrest records, police records, case files, police reports
indictmentsacquittals
Verdicts freeing defendants
exonerations · dismissals · absolutions · vindications · clearances
indictmentsexonerations
Clearances from accusation
endorsements · commendations · vindications · defenses · praises
- criminal indictmentFormal accusation of crime
- grand jury indictment
- sealed indictmentUndisclosed criminal accusation
- federal indictmentFormal accusation from national prosecutors