What does a plea of no plea mean?

What does a plea of no plea mean?

A “blind plea” is a guilty plea entered with no plea agreement in place. In the United States, a nolo contendere (no contest) plea is when the defendant submits a plea that neither admits nor denies the offense.

Does a plea deal mean you’re guilty?

Typically, the plea bargain means that you will plead “guilty” to that lesser charge, even if you maintain personally that you did not commit the crime. As a practical matter, a no contest plea has the same effect as a guilty plea and you will be charged and sentenced for your crime.

Is pleading no contest the same as guilty?

No contest means that you do not agree with what you were charged with, however, you will accept the fine or punishment associated with the charge. The difference between guilty and no contest is in the admission of the charge against you. Guilty equals, yes I did what I was charged with and admit it.

Why would a defendant stand mute?

Standing mute allows the defendant to avoid the spectacle of a not guilty plea while his attorneys prepare for a potential death-penalty trial.

What does pleading no contest mean in a court of law?

When you plead guilty in some criminal cases, it is automatically used against you in a civil case. However, pleading no contest, while it has the same effect as a guilty plea, means that there is no admission of guilt. This means that there is nothing to use against you in a civil case.

What happens after a not guilty plea is granted?

Trial date. A case will be assigned a pretrial or trial date following a not guilty plea. In some cases, a case might still be dropped even after a date is established. Type of trial. It is important to remember that a person can face either a bench trial or a jury trial.

How does an attorney establish that someone is innocent?

To establish that someone is innocent of the involved crime, an attorney might cross-examine the officer who arrested him or her or demonstrate other evidence that establishes that the defendant is innocent. Trials are complicated and often long, and it can be a difficult decision to proceed to trial.

How does the prosecution prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt?

During a trial, the prosecution will be required to establish that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. To establish that someone is innocent of the involved crime, an attorney might cross-examine the officer who arrested him or her or demonstrate other evidence that establishes that the defendant is innocent.