Acquittal
In criminal law, an acquittal is
a verdict of not guilty, or some
similar end of the proceeding that
terminates it with prejudice without
a verdict of guilty being entered
against the accused. The opposite
result is a conviction. In the common
law tradition, an acquittal formally
certifies the innocence of the accused,
as far as the criminal law is concerned.
Under the rules of double jeopardy
and autrefois acquit, an acquittal
operates to bar the retrial of the
accused for the same offense, even
if new evidence surfaces that further
implicates the accused. The effect
of an acquittal on criminal proceedings
is the same whether it results from
a jury verdict, or whether it results
from the operation of some other
rule that discharges the accused.
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