plea
Defendant's formal response
A plea is an urgent, emotional request: She made a plea for help.
In law, a plea is a defendant's formal response to criminal charges—guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
A plea bargain is an agreement where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence.
More broadly, plea can mean an excuse or justification: His plea was that he hadn't been informed.
Formal written appeal
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- implorationEarnest, urgent appeal
- beseechPlead urgently with someone
implore · beg · adjuration · solicitation · intercession · invocation · fervent · heartfelt
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- defendantParty facing charges
- guiltyResponsible for wrongdoing
- not guiltyCleared of charges
felony · misdemeanor · prosecution · verdict · sentence · charge · courtroom · judge
Merciful treatment of offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- compassionConcern for others' distress
grace · reprieve · absolution · mitigation · sympathy · humanitarian · compassionate · merciful
Formal request document
- submissionYielding to another's will
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- appealFormal review request
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
redress · relief · petition · formal · written · filed · submitted · motion
Defense of location
- justificationReason proving rightness
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- insanitySevere mental illness
- diminished capacityImpaired mental functioning
mitigating · exculpatory · exoneration · acquittal · vindication · innocence · entrapment · duress
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- dealAgreement or distribution
- agreementShared position between parties
- reductionMaking something smaller
compromise · concession · settlement · arrangement · terms · lesser charge · cooperation · admission
petition
Formal written appeal
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- implorationEarnest, urgent appeal
beseech · implore · beg · adjuration · solicitation · intercession · invocation · fervent · heartfelt · desperate
arraignment
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- defendantParty facing charges
- guiltyResponsible for wrongdoing
not guilty · felony · misdemeanor · prosecution · verdict · sentence · charge · courtroom · judge · attorney
clemency
Merciful treatment of offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
compassion · grace · reprieve · absolution · mitigation · sympathy · humanitarian · compassionate · merciful · sparing
application
Formal request document
- submissionYielding to another's will
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- appealFormal review request
grievance · redress · relief · petition · formal · written · filed · submitted · motion · claim
alibi
Defense of location
- justificationReason proving rightness
- self-defenseProtecting oneself from harm
- insanitySevere mental illness
diminished capacity · mitigating · exculpatory · exoneration · acquittal · vindication · innocence · entrapment · duress · necessity
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- prosecutorGovernment's trial lawyer
- dealAgreement or distribution
- agreementShared position between parties
reduction · compromise · concession · settlement · arrangement · terms · lesser charge · cooperation · admission · sentencing
pleaverdict
Official court decision
sentence · judgment · ruling · decision · conviction
pleacharge
Cost or accusation
indictment · accusation · prosecution · arraignment · allegation
- my pleasureGracious response to gratitude
- please help meRequest for intervention
- pretty pleaseEmphatic polite request
- guilty pleasureEnjoyment tinged with shame
- oh pleaseDismissive exclamation of doubt
- say pleasePoliteness reminder when requesting
please, pleasure, pleasant, plead, pleading, pleaded, pleads, pleas, pleader