Judiciary And Legal Systems Questions
The purpose of a plea of no contest, also known as a nolo contendere plea, is for the defendant to neither admit nor deny guilt in a criminal case. By entering a plea of no contest, the defendant accepts the charges brought against them without admitting fault. This plea is often used when the defendant believes that a guilty plea could be used against them in a civil lawsuit related to the same incident. Additionally, a plea of no contest may result in reduced penalties or a more favorable outcome in sentencing.