What Does No Contest Mean?

Plea no contest meaning, no contest plead. No contest mean to state that you will not offer a defence in a court of law for something wrong you have

Plead No Contest Meaning 

During court trial, there's a chance that you might witness a party pleading no contest. This now begs the question, what does no contest mean?

No Contest is generally a plea made by a defendant in the court that he outrightly gives up the right to go to trial in exchange for the prosecutor agreeing to a much lesser offense than is available or recommend lesser punishment that is possible. 

According to the Longman Dictionary Of Contemporary English, No contest mean  to state that you will not offer a defence in a court of law for something wrong you have done.

Now, let's consider what pleading no contest mean for the defendant.!

What Does Pleading No Contest Mean?

It is easy to gather front the information above as to what pleading no contest mean. Pleading no contest means that the defendant does not admit being guilty, but rather submit to a lesser offense or an offense recommended by him.

Hence, from the above definition, it is glaring that it shares some striking similarities with plea bargaining. This is because it rarely occurs for the defendants to plead guilty to an offense for which he is charged without first reaching a considerable agreement with the prosecutor. This also  applies when a party plead no contest.

Also Read: How To Open Null File

The Meaning Of Nolo Contendere

The term No Contest is represented with the Latin Maxim, "nolo contendere". Although it shares similar features and consequences, but no contest plea does not literally mean the admission of guilt. In other words, in no contest plea, the defendant does not admit guilt.

Nolo contendere is a Latin phrase meaning "I do not wish to contend".  The Latin Maxim, Nolo contendere is also similarly known as to plead no contest.

Application Of No Contest Plea

The No Contest Plea is applied in some certain jurisdictions in the United States Of America. There, it is regarded as an alternative to plea bargain or pleading guilty to an offense charged with. Noteworthy, despite the application of pleading no contest, it is applied with some restrictions and no considered as a right in the aforementioned jurisdictions in the states.

However, in the Commonwealth nations, pleading no contest is not allowed in the court. The defendant is either allowed to plead guilty or no guilty.

Difference Between No Contest Plea and Nolle Prosequi

While no contest plea is entered into by the defendant showing his intention not to proceed with the trial in exchange for a lesser or recommended offense by him, Nolle Prosequi on the other hand, is made by the prosecutor.

The legal term Nolle Prosequi meaning "to be unwilling to pursue" is a voluntary declaration of the prosecutor that they are ending a criminal case before a trial or before the judge gives a verdict. In most countries, only the Attorney General of the state has the power to do this.

Advantage Of A No Contest Plea

In civil case, pleading no contest has its own advantage to the defendant. This is because despite the fact that the defendant shows his intention not to proceed with be trial, it does not necessarily mean an admission of liability in a related civil case. Hence, it's more beneficial for a defendant to plead no contest.

Difference Between No Contest vs. Guilty Plea

Emphatically, both guilt plea and no contest plea are often used interchangeably but are with different inherent consequences for the defendant who please to either of the two.

Pleading guilty simply means that the defendant admits committing the offense. Contrary to this, no contest plea meaning is that the defendant does not admit the guilt of the offense he is charged with but accepts the conviction. 

Hence, the most glaring difference between no contest and guilty plea is the admission of guilt.

Conclusion

No contest is one of the very ways of ensuring the defendant has a chance at reducing his offence for a lesser offense. At the same time, it ensures fast decision making by the jury as the plea of no contest evade all the necessary trial procedure.