plea hearing
Court appearance event
A plea hearing is a court proceeding where a defendant formally enters a plea—typically guilty, not guilty, or no contest—in response to criminal charges.
The judge ensures the defendant understands the charges and the consequences of their plea: The plea hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.
If a plea deal has been negotiated, the terms are presented to the court for approval.
- court dateScheduled judicial appearance
- no contestUneven match or plea
- due processGuaranteed judicial fairness
- judgeOne who decides
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
time served · prosecutor · presumption of innocence · indictment · defendant · conviction · probation · burden of proof · defense attorney · legal counsel · open court · case dismissed · appeal · court clerk · restitution · incarceration · fines and penalties · discovery
plea hearingtrial
Judicial examination of claims
jury trial · bench trial · preliminary hearing · arraignment · sentencing hearing
plea hearingtrial by jury
Legal proceeding with citizen judges
acquittal · hung jury · litigation · case-in-chief · jury deliberation
plea, hearing, pleas, plead, pleaded, pleading, pleadings, pleader, hear