Plea

Plea in United States

Plea Definition

In Equity. A special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, or delayed, or barred. Mitf. Eq. PI. (Jeremy Ed.) 219; Cooper, Eq. PI. 223; Story, Eq. PL § 649. The modes of making defense to a bill in equity are said to be by demurrer, which demands of the court whether, from the matter apparent from the bill, the defendant shall answer at all; by plea, which, resting on the foundation of new matter offered, demands whether the defendant shall answer further ; by answer, which responds generally to the charges of the bill; by disclaimer, which denies any interest in the matters in question. Mitf. Eq. PL (Jeremy Ed.) 13; 2 Story (U. S.) 59; Story, Eq. PL § 437. Pleas are said to be pure which rely upon foreign matter to discharge or stay the suit, and anomalous or negative which consist mainly of denials of the substantial matters set forth in the bill. Story, Eq. PL §§ 651, 667; 2 Daniell, Ch. Pr. 97, 110; Beames, Eq. PL 123; Adams, Eq. 236.
(1) Pleas to the jurisdiction assert that the court before which the cause is brought is not the proper court to take cognizance of the matter.
(2) Pleas to the person may be to the person of the plaintiff or defendant. Those of the former class are mainly outlawry, excommunication, popish recusant convict, which are never pleaded in America, and very rarely now in England; attainder, which is now seldom pleaded (2 Atk. 399) ; alienage, which is not a disability unless the matter respect lands, when the alien may not hold them, or he be an alien enemy not under license (2 Ves. & B. 323) ; infancy, coverture, and idiocy, which are pleadable as at law (see Abatement) ; bankruptcy and insolvency, in which case all the facts necessary to establish the plaintiff as a legally declared bankrupt must be set forth (3 Mer. 667), though not necessarily as of the defendant’s own knowledge (Younge, 331; 4 Beav. Rolls, 554; l’ Younge & C. 39) ; want pf character in which he sues, as that he is not an administrator (2 Dick. 510; 1 Cox, 198), is not heir (2 Ves. & B. 159; 2 Brown, Ch. 143; 3 Brown, Ch. 489), is not a creditor (2 Sim. & S. 274), is not a partner (6 Madd. 61), as he pretends to be, that the plaintiff named is a fictitious person, or was dead at the commencement of the suit (Story, Eq. PL § 727). Those to the person of the defendant may show that the defendant is not the person he is alleged to be, or does not sustain the character given by the bill (6 Madd. 61; Rep. temp. Pinch, 334), or that he is bankrupt, to require the assignees to be joined (Story, Eq. PL § 732). These pleas to the person are pleas in abatement, or, at least, in the nature of pleas in abatement.
(3) Pleas to the bill or the frame of the bill object to the suit as framed, or contend that it is unnecessary. These may be the pendency of another suit, which is analogous to the same plea at law, and is governed in most respects by the same principles (Story, Eq. PL § 736; 2 Mylne & C. 602; 1 Phil. Ch. 82; 1 Ves. Jr. 544; 4 Ves. Jr. 357; 1 Sim. &. S. 491; Mitf. Eq. PL [Jeremy Ed.] 248; see Lis Pendens), and the other suit must be in equity, and not at law (Beames, Eq. PL 146-148) ; want of proper parties, which goes to both discovery and relief, where both are prayed for (Story, Eq. PL § 745; see 3 Younge & C. 447), but not to a bill of discovery merely (2 Paige [N. Y.] 280; 3 Paige [N. Y.] 222; 3 Cranch [U. S.] 220); a multiplicity of suits (1 P. Wms. 428; 2 Mason [U. S.] 190) ; multifariousness, which should be taken by way of demurrer, when the joining or confession of the distinct matters appears from the face of the bill, as it usually does (Story, Eq. PL § 271).
(4) Pleas in bar rely upon a bar created by statute, as, the statute of limitations (1 Sim. & S. 4; 2 Sim. 45; 3 Sumn. [U. S.] 152), which is a good plea in equity as well as at law, and with similar exceptions (Coop. Eq. PL 253; see Statute of Limitations), the statute of frauds, where its provisions apply (1 Johns. Ch. [N. Y., 425; 2 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 275; 4 Ves. 24, 720; 2 Brown, Ch. 559), or some other fublic or private statute (2 Story, Eq. Jur. 768) ; matter of record or as of record in some court, as, a common recovery (1 P. Wms. 754; 2 Freem. Ch. 180; 1 Vern. 13); a judgment at law (1 Keen, 456; 2 Mylne & C. 602; Story, Eq. PL § 781, note), the sentence or judgment of a foreign court or a court not of record (12 Clark & F. 368; 14 Sim. 265; 3 Hare, 100; 1 Younge & C. 464), especially where its jurisdiction is of a peculiar or exclusive nature (12 Ves. 307; Ambl. 756; 2 How. [U. S.] 619), with limitations in case of fraud (1 Ves. Jr. 284; Story, Eq. PL § 788), or a decree of the same or another court of equity (Cas. temp. Talb. 217; 7 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 1; 2 Sim. & S. 464; 2 Younge & C. 43) ; matters purely in pais, in which case the pleas may go to discovery, relief, or either, both, or part of either, of which the principal (.though not the only) pleas are, account, stated or settled (2 Atk. 1; 13 Price, 767; 7 Paige [N. Y,] 573; 1 Mylne & K. 231), accord and satisfaction (1 Hale, 564), award (2 Ves. & B. 764), purchase for valuable consideration (2 Sumn. [U. S.] 507; 2 Younge & C. 457), release (3 P. Wms. 315), lapse of time, analogous to the statute of limitations (1 Ves. Jr. 264; 10 Ves. 466; 1 Younge & C. 482, 453; 2 Jac. & W. 1; 1 Hare, 594; 1 Russ. & M. 453; 2 Younge & C. 58; 1 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 46; 10 Wheat. [U. S.] 152; 1 Schoales & L. 721; 6 Madd. 61; 3 Paige [N. Y.] 273; 5 Paige [N. Y.] 26; 7 Paige [N. Y.] 62), title in the defendant (Story, Eq. PL § 812). At Law. The defendant’s answer by matter of fact to the plaintiff’s declaration, as distinguished from a demurrer, which is an answer by matter of law. It includes as well the denial of the truth of the allegations on which the plaintiff relies, as the statement of facts on which the defendant relies. In an ancient use, it denoted action, and is still used sometimes in that sense; as, summoned to answer in a plea of trespass. Steph. PL 38, 39, note; Warren, Law Stud. 272, note (w) ; Oliver, Prec. 97. In a popular, and not legal, sense, the word is used to denote a forensic argument. It was strictly applicable in a kindred sense when the pleadings were conducted orally by the counsel. Steph. PL Append, note 1. Pleas are either dilatory, which tend to’ defeat the particular action to which they apply on account of its being brought before the wrong court, by or against the wrong person or in an improper form, or peremptory, which impugii the right of action altogether, or which answer the plaintiff’s allegations of right conclusively. Pleas are also said to be to the jurisdiction of the court, in suspension of the action, in abatement of the writ, in bar of the action. The first three classes are dilatory, the last peremptory. Steph. PL 63 ; 1 Chit. PL 425; Lawes, PL 36. Pleas are of various kinds, in abatement (see Abatement) ; in avoidance, called, also, confession and avoidance,” which admits, in words or in effect, the truth of the matters contained in the declaration, and alleges some new matter to avoid the effect of it, and show that the plaintiff is, notwithstanding, not entitled to his action (1 Chit. PL 540; Lawes, PL 122), see Confession and Avoidance; in bar, which deny that the plaintiff has any cause of action (1 Chit. PL 407; Co. Litt. 303b). The term is often used in a restricted sense to denote what are with propriety called special pleas in bar. These pleas are of two kinds, the general issue, and special pleas in bar. See Special Plea in Bar. The parts of a plea are: First, the title of the court. Second, the title of the term. Third, the names of the parties in the margin. These, however, do not constitute any substantial part of the plea. The surnames only are usually inserted, and that of the defendant precedes the plaintiff’s; as, Roe ads. Doe. Fourth, the commencement, which includes the statement of the name of the defendant, the appearance, the defense (see Defense), the actio non (see Actio
Non) . Fifth, the body, which may contain the inducement, the protestation (see Protestation), ground of defense, quae est eadem, the traverse. Sixth, the conclusion.
(1) Dilatory pleas go to destroy the particular action, but do not affect the right of action in the plaintiff, and hence delay the decision of the cause upon its merits. Gould, PL c. ii. § 33. This class includes pleas to the jurisdiction, to the disability of the parties, and all pleas in abatement. All dilatory pleas must be pleaded with the greatest certainty, must contain a distinct, clear, and positive averment of all material facts, and must, in general, enable the plaintiff to correct the deficiency or error pleaded to. 1 Chit. PL 365. See Abatement; Jurisdiction.
(2) Pleas in discharge admit the demand of the plaintiff, and show that it has been discharged by some matter of fact. Such are pleas of judgment, release, and the like.
(3) Pleas in excuse admit the demand or complaint stated in the declaration, but excuse the noncompliance with the plaintiff’s claim, or the commission of the act of which he complains, on account of the defendant’s having done all in his power to satisfy the former, or not having been the culpable author of the latter. A plea of tender is an example of the former, and a plea of son assault demesne an instance of the latter.
(4) Foreign pleas go to the jurisdiction, and their effect is to remove the action from the county in which the venue is originally laid. Carth. 402. Previous to the statute of Anne, an affidavit was required. 5 Mod. 335; Carth. 402; 1 Saund. PL 98, note 1;’ Viner, Abr. Foreign Pleas; 1 Chit. PL 382; Bac. Abr, Abatement (B).
(5) Pleas of justification, -which assert that the defendant has purposely done the act of which the plaintiff complains, and in the exercise of his legal rights. 8 Term R. 78; 3 Wils. 71. No person is bound to justify who is not prima facie a wrongdoer. 1 Leon. 301; 2 Leon. 83; Cowp. 478; 4 Pick. (Mass.) 126; 18 Johns. (N. Y.) 443, 679; 1 Chit. PI. 486.
(6) Pleas puis darrein continuance, which introduce new matter of defense, which has arisen or come to the plaintiff’s knowledge since the last continuance. In most of the states, the actual continuance of a cause from one term to another, or from one particular day in term to another day in the same term, is practically done away with, and the prescribed times for pleading are fixed without any reference to terms of court. Still, this right of a defendant to change his plea so as to avail himself of facts rising during the course of the litigation remains unimpaired; and though there be no continuance, the plea is still called a plea puis darrein continuance, meaning, now, a plea upon facts arising since the last stage of the suit. In Criminal Law. The formal answer of the defendant to the indictment. Pleas are either general or special; the general pleas being guilty, not guilty, and nollo contendere, and all other pleas being special. Special pleas are either in bar, being, if found true, a bar to further prosecution, or in abatement, those which go merely to abate or suspend the proceeding. See Pleading.

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In Equity. A special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, or delayed, or barred. Mitf. Eq. PI. (Jeremy Ed.) 219; Cooper, Eq. PI. 223; Story, Eq. PL § 649. The modes of making defense to a bill in equity are said to be by demurrer, which demands of the court whether, from the matter apparent from the bill, the defendant shall answer at all; by plea, which, resting on the foundation of new matter offered, demands whether the defendant shall answer further ; by answer, which responds generally to the charges of the bill; by disclaimer, which denies any interest in the matters in question. Mitf. Eq. PL (Jeremy Ed.) 13; 2 Story (U. S.) 59; Story, Eq. PL § 437. Pleas are said to be pure which rely upon foreign matter to discharge or stay the suit, and anomalous or negative which consist mainly of denials of the substantial matters set forth in the bill. Story, Eq. PL §§ 651, 667; 2 Daniell, Ch. Pr. 97, 110; Beames, Eq. PL 123; Adams, Eq. 236.
(1) Pleas to the jurisdiction assert that the court before which the cause is brought is not the proper court to take cognizance of the matter.
(2) Pleas to the person may be to the person of the plaintiff or defend
ant. Those of the former class are mainly outlawry, excommunication, popish recusant convict, which are never pleaded in America, and very rarely now in England; attainder, which is now seldom pleaded (2 Atk. 399) ; alienage, which is not a disability unless the matter respect lands, when the alien may not hold them, or he be an alien enemy not under license (2 Ves. & B. 323) ; infancy, coverture, and idiocy, which are pleadable as at law (see Abatement) ; bankruptcy and insolvency, in which case all the facts necessary to establish the plaintiff as a legally declared bankrupt must be set forth (3 Mer. 667), though not necessarily as of the defendant’s own knowledge (Younge, 331; 4 Beav. Rolls, 554; l’ Younge & C. 39) ; want pf character in which he sues, as that he is not an administrator (2 Dick. 510; 1 Cox, 198), is not heir (2 Ves. & B. 159; 2 Brown, Ch. 143; 3 Brown, Ch. 489), is not a creditor (2 Sim. & S. 274), is not a partner (6 Madd. 61), as he pretends to be, that the plaintiff named is a fictitious person, or was dead at the commencement of the suit (Story, Eq. PL § 727). Those to the person of the defendant may show that the defendant is not the person he is alleged to be, or does not sustain the character given by the bill (6 Madd. 61; Rep. temp. Pinch, 334), or that he is bankrupt, to require the assignees to be joined (Story, Eq. PL § 732). These pleas to the person are pleas in abatement, or, at least, in the nature of pleas in abatement.
(3) Pleas to the bill or the frame of the bill object to the suit as framed, or contend that it is unnecessary. These may be the pendency of another suit, which is analogous to the same plea at law, and is governed in most respects by the same principles (Story, Eq. PL § 736; 2 Mylne & C. 602; 1 Phil. Ch. 82; 1 Ves. Jr. 544; 4 Ves. Jr. 357; 1 Sim. &. S. 491; Mitf. Eq. PL [Jeremy Ed.] 248; see Lis Pendens), and the other suit must be in equity, and not at law (Beames, Eq. PL 146-148) ; want of proper parties, which goes to both discovery and relief, where both are prayed for (Story, Eq. PL § 745; see 3 Younge & C. 447), but not to a bill of discovery merely (2 Paige [N. Y.] 280; 3 Paige [N. Y.] 222; 3 Cranch [U. S.] 220); a multiplicity of suits (1 P. Wms. 428; 2 Mason [U. S.] 190) ; multifariousness, which should be taken by way of demurrer, when the joining or confession of the distinct matters appears from the face of the bill, as it usually does (Story, Eq. PL § 271).
(4) Pleas in bar rely upon a bar created by statute, as, the statute of limitations (1 Sim. & S. 4; 2 Sim. 45; 3 Sumn. [U. S.] 152), which is a good plea in equity as well as at law, and with similar exceptions (Coop. Eq. PL 253; see Statute of Limitations), the statute of frauds, where its provisions apply (1 Johns. Ch. [N. Y., 425; 2 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 275; 4 Ves. 24, 720; 2 Brown, Ch. 559), or some other fublic or private statute (2 Story, Eq. Jur. 768) ; matter of record or as of record in some court, as, a common recovery (1 P. Wms. 754; 2 Freem. Ch. 180; 1 Vern. 13); a judgment at law (1 Keen, 456; 2 Mylne & C. 602; Story, Eq. PL § 781, note), the sentence or judgment of a foreign court or a court not of record (12 Clark & F. 368; 14 Sim. 265; 3 Hare, 100; 1 Younge & C. 464), especially where its jurisdiction is of a peculiar or exclusive nature (12 Ves. 307; Ambl. 756; 2 How. [U. S.] 619), with limitations in case of fraud (1 Ves. Jr. 284; Story, Eq. PL § 788), or a decree of the same or another court of equity (Cas. temp. Talb. 217; 7 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 1; 2 Sim. & S. 464; 2 Younge & C. 43) ; matters purely in pais, in which case the pleas may go to discovery, relief, or either, both, or part of either, of which the principal (.though not the only) pleas are, account, stated or settled (2 Atk. 1; 13 Price, 767; 7 Paige [N. Y,] 573; 1 Mylne & K. 231), accord and satisfaction (1 Hale, 564), award (2 Ves. & B. 764), purchase for valuable consideration (2 Sumn. [U. S.] 507; 2 Younge & C. 457), release (3 P. Wms. 315), lapse of time, analogous to the statute of limitations (1 Ves. Jr. 264; 10 Ves. 466; 1 Younge & C. 482, 453; 2 Jac. & W. 1; 1 Hare, 594; 1 Russ. & M. 453; 2 Younge & C. 58; 1 Johns. Ch. [N. Y.] 46; 10 Wheat. [U. S.] 152; 1 Schoales & L. 721; 6 Madd. 61; 3 Paige [N. Y.] 273; 5 Paige [N. Y.] 26; 7 Paige [N. Y.] 62), title in the defendant (Story, Eq. PL § 812). At Law. The defendant’s answer by matter of fact to the plaintiff’s declaration, as distinguished from a demurrer, which is an answer by matter of law. It includes as well the denial of the truth of the allegations on which the plaintiff relies, as the statement of facts on which the defendant relies. In an ancient use, it denoted action, and is still used sometimes in that sense; as, summoned to answer in a plea of trespass. Steph. PL 38, 39, note; Warren, Law Stud. 272, note (w) ; Oliver, Prec. 97. In a popular, and not legal, sense, the word is used to denote a forensic argument. It was strictly applicable in a kindred sense when the pleadings were conducted orally by the counsel. Steph. PL Append, note 1. Pleas are either dilatory, which tend to’ defeat the particular action to which they apply on account of its being brought before the wrong court, by or against the wrong person or in an improper form, or peremptory, which impugii the right of action altogether, or which answer the plaintiff’s allegations of right conclusively. Pleas are also said to be to the jurisdiction of the court, in suspension of the action, in abatement of the writ, in bar of the action. The first three classes are dilatory, the last peremptory. Steph. PL 63 ; 1 Chit. PL 425; Lawes, PL 36. Pleas are of various kinds, in abatement (see Abatement) ; in avoidance, called, also, confession and avoidance,” which admits, in words or in effect, the truth of the matters contained in the declaration, and alleges some new matter to avoid the effect of it, and show that the plaintiff is, notwithstanding, not entitled to his action (1 Chit. PL 540; Lawes, PL 122), see Confession and Avoidance; in bar, which deny that the plaintiff has any cause of action (1 Chit. PL 407; Co. Litt. 303b). The term is often used in a restricted sense to denote what are with propriety called special pleas in bar. These pleas are of two kinds, the general issue, and special pleas in bar. See Special Plea in Bar. The parts of a plea are: First, the title of the court. Second, the title of the term. Third, the names of the parties in the margin. These, however, do not constitute any substantial part of the plea. The surnames only are usually inserted, and that of the defendant precedes the plaintiff’s; as, Roe ads. Doe. Fourth, the commencement, which includes the statement of the name of the defendant, the appearance, the defense (see Defense), the actio non (see Actio Non) . Fifth, the body, which may contain the inducement, the protestation (see Protestation), ground of defense, quae est eadem, the traverse. Sixth, the conclusion.
(1) Dilatory pleas go to destroy the particular action, but do not affect the right of action in the plaintiff, and hence delay the decision of the cause upon its merits. Gould, PL c. ii. § 33. This class includes pleas to the jurisdiction, to the disability of the parties, and all pleas in abatement. All dilatory pleas must be pleaded with the greatest certainty, must contain a distinct, clear, and positive averment of all material facts, and must, in general, enable the plaintiff to correct the deficiency or error pleaded to. 1 Chit. PL 365. See Abatement; Jurisdiction.
(2) Pleas in discharge admit the demand of the plaintiff, and show that it has been discharged by some matter of fact. Such are pleas of judgment, release, and the like.
(3) Pleas in excuse admit the demand or complaint stated in the declaration, but excuse the noncompliance with the plaintiff’s claim, or the commission of the act of which he complains, on account of the defendant’s having done all in his power to satisfy the former, or not having been the culpable author of the latter. A plea of tender is an example of the former, and a plea of son assault demesne an
instance of the latter.
(4) Foreign pleas go to the jurisdiction, and their effect is to remove the action from the county in which the venue is originally laid. Carth. 402. Previous to the statute of Anne, an affidavit was required. 5 Mod. 335; Carth. 402; 1 Saund. PL 98, note 1;’ Viner, Abr. Foreign Pleas; 1 Chit. PL 382; Bac. Abr, Abatement (B).
(5) Pleas of justification, -which assert that the defendant has purposely done the act of which the plaintiff complains, and in the exercise of his legal rights. 8 Term R. 78; 3 Wils. 71. No person is bound to justify who is not prima facie a wrongdoer. 1 Leon. 301; 2 Leon. 83; Cowp. 478; 4 Pick. (Mass.) 126; 18 Johns. (N. Y.) 443, 679; 1 Chit. PI. 486.
(6) Pleas puis darrein continuance, which introduce new matter of defense, which has arisen or come to the plaintiff’s knowledge since the last continuance. In most of the states, the actual continuance of a cause from one term to another, or from one particular day in term to another day in the same term, is practically done away with, and the prescribed times for pleading are fixed without any reference to terms of court. Still, this right of a defendant to change his plea so as to avail himself of facts rising during the course of the litigation remains unimpaired; and though there be no continuance, the plea is still called a plea puis darrein continuance, meaning, now, a plea upon facts arising since the last stage of the suit. In Criminal Law. The formal answer of the defendant to the indictment. Pleas are either general or special; the general pleas being guilty, not guilty, and nollo contendere, and all other pleas being special. Special pleas are either in bar, being, if found true, a bar to further prosecution, or in abatement, those which go merely to abate or suspend the proceeding. See Pleading.

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Notice

This definition of Plea Is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This definition needs to be proofread..

Practical Information

Note: Some of this information was last updated in 1982

The answer given to a petition, declaration, or complaint; any one of the common law pleadings; in a criminal procedure, a plea is entered of guilty, not guilty, or, in some jurisdictions, nolo contendere (“no contest”).

(Revised by Ann De Vries)

What is Plea?

For a meaning of it, read Plea in the Legal Dictionary here. Browse and search more U.S. and international free legal definitions and legal terms related to Plea.

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  • Further Reading (Articles)

    Plea Deals Shrouded in Mystery, Winnipeg Free Press; November 22, 2013; Parkes, Debra

    Plea Bargaining’s Triumph, The Yale Law Journal; March 1, 2000; Fisher, George

    Plea Bargaining: An Overview, Mondaq Business Briefing; November 5, 2013; Nayak, Sugandha

    Plea deals turn wheels of justice, Deseret News (Salt Lake City); October 24, 2005; Linda Thomson Deseret Morning News

    Abolishing plea bargaining: An end to the same old song and dance, American Journal of Criminal Law; July 1, 1999; Palmer, Jeff

    Plea Bargaining for Your Life, USA TODAY; January 1, 2014; Gesse, Michelle

    Rethinking Plea Bargaining: The Practice and Reform of Prosecutorial Adjudication in American Criminal Procedure, American Journal of Criminal Law; July 1, 2006; Langer, Máximo

    To plea or not to plea: the benefits of establishing an institutionalized plea bargaining system in Japan., Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal; June 1, 2011; Prakash, Priyanka

    Plea Bargaining, Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law; January 1, 2006

    Plea Discussions In Fraud Cases: Are The AG’s Guidelines Fit For Purpose?(United Kingdom. Law Officers’ Departments), Mondaq Business Briefing; June 29, 2010; Finnerty, Nicola

    Plea Bargaining’s Triumph: A History of Plea Bargaining in America.(Book Review), Michigan Law Review; May 1, 2004; Bibas, Stephanos

    Pleas, plain language and precedent: Applicability of rules 11(F) and 31(E) to criminal forfeiture provisions, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology; April 1, 1997; Angela Crawford

    Plea Bargaining and the Death Penalty: An Exploratory Study, Justice System Journal; September 1, 2008; Ehrhard, Susan

    PLEA BARGAINS LIGHTEN COURTS’ LOADS, HELP CINCH CONVICTIONS, EXPERTS SAY.(FRONT), The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); October 20, 1997; Aoki, Naomi

    Plea satisfies victim’s family., Clovis News Journal (Clovis, NM); December 13, 2006

    Pleas, Encyclopaedia Judaica; January 1, 2007; Cohn, Haim

    Pleas, Plain Language and Precedent: Applicability of Rules 11(f) and 31(e) to Criminal Forfeiture Provisions, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology; March 22, 1997; Crawford, Angela

    Innocent plea entered for Moussaoui, The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL; June 26, 2002; ASSOCIATED PRESS

    Justice in Plea Bargaining, William and Mary Law Review; March 1, 1998; Zacharias, Fred C.

    The Prisoners’ (Plea Bargain) Dilemma: Most Defendants Could Avoid Both Plea Bargaining and Trial If They Could Coordinate, Regulation; March 22, 2010; Bar-Gill, Oren Ben-Shahar, Omri

    Plea Definition in the context of the Federal Court System

    In a criminal case, the defendant’s statement pleading “guilty,” “not guilty,” or “no contest” in answer to the charges.


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