[zeugma]

You can report the crime, but there will be no court case unless the prosecutor chooses to file a complaint with the court. By the same token, sometimes, especially in cases of domestic violence, the prosecutor will file a court case even if the victim doesn’t want them to.

In other words, you can't prosecute the crown unless the crown deigns to allow itself to be prosecuted.

[j.havenfarm]

Sovereign immunity. Oldie but a goodie. 1000 years and going strong. Most commonly seen today in the great limits placed on the circumstances under which one can civilly sue the government