Guilty Plea – the defendant’s formal admission in court of having committed the charged offense

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guilty – A plea of a criminal defendant who does not contest the charges. [1]

1. The plea of a defendant in a criminal prosecution who admits having committed the crime with which he is charged.  Having guilt; justly chargeable with a crime; not innocent; criminal.  The state of a person who has committed an offense.  Commonwealth v Walter, 83 Pa 105, 108. [2]

1. The plea a defendant in a criminal prosecution admitting having committed the crime with which she is charged. [3]

guilty plea (1942) An accused person’s formal admission in court of having committed the charged offense.  *  A guilty plea must be made voluntarily and only after the accused has been informed of and understands his or her rights.  It ordinarily has the same effect as a guilty verdict and conviction after a trial on the merits.  A guilty plea is usually part of a plea bargain. [1]

1. A voluntary plea by an accused admitting the commission of the act charged as a criminal offense, generally permitted except in capital cases. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 484

In a criminal case, an admission or confession of guilt, a submission without contest, a waiver of defense, as conclusive as a verdict of a jury, admitting all material averments of fact in the accusation, leaving no issue for the jury, except in those instances where the extent of a punishment is to be imposed or found by the jury. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 495. [2]

References:

Disclaimer: All material throughout this website is compiled in accordance with Fair Use.

[1]: Black’s Law Dictionary Deluxe Tenth Edition by Henry Campbell Black & Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner. ISBN: 978-0-314-62130-6

[2]: Ballantine’s Law Dictionary with Pronunciations
Third Edition
 by James A. Ballantine (James Arthur 1871-1949).  Edited by William S. Anderson.  © 1969 by THE LAWYER’S CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY.  Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-30931

[3]:  Ballantine’s Law Dictionary Legal Assistant Edition
by Jack Ballantine 
(James Arthur 1871-1949).  Doctored by Jack G. Handler, J.D. © 1994 Delmar by Thomson Learning.  ISBN 0-8273-4874-6.

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