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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.

Show all 3 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1926–1970

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

A plea in a criminal prosecution of the same effect as a plea of guilty. See 71 N. H. 435, 52 Atl. 943.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Lat I will not contest it The name of a plea In a criminal action, having the same legal effect as a pica of guilty, so far as regards all proceedings on the indictment, and on which the defendant may be sentencod. V. S. v. Hartwell, 3 Cliff. 221, Fed. Can. No. 15,318. Like a demurrer this plea admits, for the purposes of the case, all the facts which are well pleaded, but is not to be used as an admission elsewhere. Com. v. Tllton, 8 Mete, (Mass.) 232. Not available as an estoppel in a civil action. Coin. v. Horton, 9 Pick. (Mass.) 206.

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.