defense plea
Courtroom exculpatory argument
A defense plea is a defendant's formal response to criminal charges, stating their position before the court.
The most common are guilty, not guilty, and no contest (nolo contendere).
Some jurisdictions allow specialized pleas like not guilty by reason of insanity.
The attorney advised her client to enter a defense plea of not guilty.
- not guiltyCleared of charges
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- witness testimonySworn statement from observer
- burden of proofDuty to prove allegations
criminal law · cross-examination · mitigating circumstances · coerced confession · opening statements · alibi · temporary insanity · presumption of innocence · reasonable doubt · diminished capacity · mental incapacity · battered woman · crime of passion · stand your ground · closing arguments · jury deliberation · courtroom procedure · appeal process
- Self-help remediesself-protection
defense pleaguilty plea
Admitting criminal responsibility
confession · admission of guilt · no contest plea · allocution · self-incrimination
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