Bill

Bill, in the criminal law of England, is the formal name of a written accusation of serious crime preferred before a grand jury. If that body by a majority finds 'a true bill,' the prisoner or party accused is thereupon tried upon an indictment before a petty jury, whose verdict determines his guilt or his innocence; but if the grand jury find 'no true bill,' the accused is at once set at liberty. In the latter event, however, other bills may be sent up against him. This whole procedure is more quickly and cheaply managed in Scotland by the system of public prosecutors, who take the responsibility of proceeding to trial without a preliminary public investigation. See GRAND JURY, INDICTMENT, PROSECUTION, TRIAL.