non-lieu

dismissal (legal)

noun nohn-LYUH Rare

Also means

no-grounds ruling

Usage Note

Non-lieu is a legal term for a ruling that a case lacks sufficient grounds to proceed to trial — the French equivalent of a 'no-bill' or dismissal for lack of evidence. A judge issues a ordonnance de non-lieu. The plural is non-lieux.

Examples

"Le juge a prononcé un non-lieu."

Natural Translation

The judge issued a dismissal.

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