Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 305/17

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • True bill: Another word for indictment.
     After the grand jury is impaneled, it shall be the duty of the court to appoint a foreman, who shall have power to swear or affirm witnesses to testify before them, and whose duty it shall be, when the grand jury, or any nine of them, find a bill of indictment to be supported by good and sufficient evidence, to indorse thereon “A true bill;” where they do not find a bill to be supported by sufficient evidence, to indorse thereon “Not a true bill;” and shall, in either case, sign his name as foreman, at the foot of said endorsement, and shall also, in each case in which a true bill shall be returned into court as aforesaid, note thereon the name or names of the witness or witnesses upon whose evidence the same shall have been found.