In municipal court, which document serves as the charging instrument?

• A. Indictment.
• B. Information.
• C. The grand jury indictment.
• D. The complaint.

Answer: (D)

In this setting, the charge starts with a sworn, written statement that lays out the essential facts and the statute allegedly violated, and it’s filed to initiate the case in the municipal court. This document, served on the defendant, serves as the formal charging instrument for misdemeanor or petty-offense cases handled by local courts. Grand jury processes and indictments are used for certain felonies in higher courts, and an information is another form used in some jurisdictions, often in different court levels or procedures. The complaint fits the municipal context precisely: it provides the necessary probable cause and specifics to move the case forward without the more formal grand jury process or the alternative procedures seen in higher courts.