nolo contendere
Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Stimson (1881)
Definitions from Case Law
From 400 U.S. 25 - North Carolina v. Alford · 1970Most cited · 14,267 citing opinions
a plea by which a defendant does not expressly admit his guilt, but nonetheless waives his right to a trial and authorizes the court for purposes of the case to treat him as if he were guilty.
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
I will not contend. A plea to an indictment on which the defendant might be sentenced, but which did not estop him in a civil proceeding for the same cause. NOIVIEN (Lat.) in Civil Law. A name of a person or thing.
In a stricter sense, the name which declared the gens or family, as, Porcius, cus; agnomen, a name added to the cognomen for the purpose of description. The name of the person himself; e. g., nomen curiis addere. The name denoting the condition of a person or class; e. g., nomen liberorum, condition of children. Cause or reason (pro causa aut ratione); e. g., nomine culpae, by reason of fault. _ A mark or sign of anything, corporeal or incorporeal. Nomen supremum, i. e., God. Debt, or obligation of debt; a debtor. See Vicat; Calv. Lex. In Old English Law. A name; the Christian name, e. g., John, as distinguished from the family name. It is also called praenomen. Fleta, lib. 4, c. 10, §§ 7, 9; Law Fr. & Lat. Diet. In Scotch Law. Nomen debiti, Tight to payment of a debt. NOMEN COLLECTIVUM (Lat.) A word in the singular number, which is to be understood in the plural in certain cases. Misdemeanor, for example, is a word of this kind, and when in the singular may be taken as nomen collectivum, and including several offenses. 2 Barn. & Adol. 75. "Heir," in the singular, sometimes includes all the heirs. "Felony" is not such a term.
Ballentine's Law Dictionary
James A. Ballentine · 1916
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A Law Dictionary and Glossary
George C. Kinney · 1893
I. I do not wish to contend; the name of a plea in a criminal case.
Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law
Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881
/. (I do not wish plea in an indictment or crimiual may be sentenced.