Nolle prosequi is a legal term meaning a prosecutor’s formal decision to voluntarily discontinue a criminal case or specific charges against a defendant before a verdict is reached. Derived from Latin, it translates to “unwilling to pursue.” When a prosecutor files a nolle prosequi, the case or charge is dismissed, but it does not necessarily bar future prosecution for the same offense, as it is not an acquittal. It’s often used when evidence is insufficient, new evidence arises, or prosecution is no longer in the public interest. The court typically grants the dismissal upon the prosecutor’s request.e