ACQUITTAL

acquittal,n.1. The legal certification, usu. by jury verdict, that an accused person is not guilty

of the charged offense.

acquittal in fact.An acquittal by a jury verdict of not guilty.

acquittal  in  law.An  acquittal  by  operation  of  law,  as  of  someone  who  has  been  charged

merely as an accessory after the principal has been acquitted.

implied  acquittal.An  acquittal  in  which  a  jury  convicts  the  defendant  of  a  lesser  included

offense  without  com-menting  on  the  greater  offense.  •  Double  jeopardy  bars  the  retrial  of  a

defendant on the higher offense after an implied acquittal. [Cases: Double Jeopardy    100.1.]

2.Contracts.  A  release  or  discharge  from  debt  or  other  liability;  ACQUITTANCE.  [Cases:

Release    8. C.J.S. Release § 2.] 3.Hist. The obligation of a middle lord to protect a tenant from a

claim, entry, or molestation by a paramount lord arising out of service that the middle lord owes

the paramount lord.[Blacks Law 8th]