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Simple English definitions for legal terms
ignoramus
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A quick definition of ignoramus:
Ignoramus is a fancy word that means "we don't know." In the past, when a group of people called a grand jury heard evidence about a crime, they would write "ignoramus" on the back of the paper if they didn't think there was enough evidence to prove the person was guilty. Nowadays, they write "not a true bill" instead. This means the person is free to go and doesn't have to answer any more questions about the crime.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Ignoramus (ig-nə-ray-məs) is a Latin term used in the past to indicate that the grand jury did not know or have enough evidence to support a criminal charge. When written on a bill of indictment, it meant that the grand jury rejected the bill. Nowadays, the term "not a true bill" is used instead.
Example: In the past, if a grand jury heard evidence and did not find it convincing enough to support a criminal charge, they would write "ignoramus" on the back of the bill of indictment. This meant that they did not know or have enough evidence to support the charge. The accused person would then be discharged without further answer.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the term "ignoramus" was used in the past to indicate that the grand jury did not find enough evidence to support a criminal charge. It shows how the term was used to protect innocent people from being wrongly accused and punished.