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Simple English definitions for legal terms
no contest
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A quick definition of no contest:
Term: No contest
Definition: When someone is accused of a crime, they can choose to say "I will not contest" instead of saying "I am guilty" or "I am not guilty." This means they are not admitting they did anything wrong, but they are also not going to try to prove they are innocent. The court will treat them as if they are guilty and decide what punishment they should get. This type of plea cannot be used against them in a civil lawsuit, which is when someone sues them for money because of the same thing they were accused of in the criminal case. However, if they have to testify in another case later, people can use their no contest plea to show they might not be telling the truth.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: No contest is a plea made by a criminal defendant in which they do not contest the charges against them. This plea does not admit guilt, but it does waive the right to a trial and allows the court to treat the defendant as guilty for sentencing purposes.
For example, if someone is charged with theft, they may choose to plead no contest. This means they are not admitting guilt, but they are also not fighting the charges. The court will then sentence them as if they were guilty.
It's important to note that a no contest plea cannot be used against the defendant in a civil suit arising from the same cause of action. This means that if someone pleads no contest to a criminal charge, they cannot be held liable in a civil lawsuit for the same incident.
However, if the defendant testifies in a subsequent proceeding, their earlier conviction can be used to impeach their credibility, even if it was the result of a no contest plea.
The term "no contest" is also known as "nolo contendere," which is a Latin phrase meaning "I will not contest."