nol. pros.
Law & Legal abbreviation · Latin Legal
| Stands for | Nolle prosequi (to be unwilling to prosecute) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
nol. pros. stands for Nolle prosequi (to be unwilling to prosecute), a Latin legal abbreviation.
Formal entry by a prosecutor abandoning a criminal charge, ending prosecution of that count without a verdict. In many jurisdictions the charge can be refiled later if the statute of limitations has not run and jeopardy has not attached.
Example: The state entered a nol. pros. on the gun count after the lab results came back.
Usage notes
Lawyers often turn it into a verb: a charge is "nol prossed" or simply "nolled". It differs from a dismissal ordered by the court because it is the prosecutor's decision, although some states require the judge's approval. The federal equivalent is a dismissal under Criminal Rule 48(a), which needs leave of court.
Related abbreviations
More Latin legal abbreviations
- habeas – Habeas corpus (you should have the body)
- i.a. – Inter alia (among other things)
- IFP – In forma pauperis (in the manner of a pauper)
- JNOV – Judgment non obstante veredicto (judgment notwithstanding the verdict)
- L.S. – Locus sigilli (place of the seal)
- nem. con. – Nemine contradicente (with no one dissenting)
- nolo – Nolo contendere (I do not wish to contend)
- pro per – In propria persona (in one's own person)
- pro tem. – Pro tempore (for the time being)
- R. – Rex or Regina (the King or the Queen)
- res ipsa – Res ipsa loquitur (the thing speaks for itself)
- ss. – Scilicet (namely, to wit)
See all 22 Latin legal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.