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Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun (Law):
- A formal plea or answer by a defendant in a criminal case. It is not a plea of guilty, but it has the same legal effect for the purpose of the case, as the defendant accepts conviction and punishment without admitting the facts of the offense.
Usage
- The term is used specifically in legal contexts, particularly in court proceedings. It is a formal declaration made by or on behalf of a defendant.
- Example: "The defendant entered a plea of to the charges."
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is a legal term of art, derived from Latin ("he/she does not wish [to contest]"). It is equivalent to the modern plea of nolo contendere.
- It is often used strategically to avoid an explicit admission of guilt, which could be used against the defendant in a related civil lawsuit.
Variants and Related Words
- Nolo contendere (n.): The more common modern Latin term for the same type of plea, meaning "I do not wish to contend."
- No contest (n.): The direct English translation and common name for this plea.
Synonyms
- Nolo contendere
- No contest
Notes on Meaning
- While functionally similar to a guilty plea in the criminal case where it is entered, a key distinction is that a or plea generally cannot be used as an admission of guilt in other proceedings, such as a civil trial for damages arising from the same incident.
Noun
- (law) an answer of `no contest' by a defendant who does not admit guilt but that subjects him to conviction