What is a judgment nisi?

• A. A judgment nisi recites the amount of the forfeiture, who is liable for the judgment, and that the judgment will be made final unless good cause is shown as to why the defendant did not appear.
• B. A judgment nisi is a final judgment rendered after a trial.
• C. A judgment nisi is a notice to appear in court.
• D. A judgment nisi is a record of the bond amount only.

Answer: (A)

Judgment nisi is a provisional, conditional judgment that specifies the amount and who is liable, and states that it will become final unless the defendant shows good cause for not appearing. The idea is to give the defendant a chance to respond or defend themselves; if no good cause is shown (or if the defendant fails to appear), the judgment can become final. It is not a final judgment after a trial, not merely a notice to appear, and not just a record of a bond amount.