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Plea
A response to an accusation. In court cases (civil or criminal), defendants may opt to enter one of three pleas in response to the charged offense: (1) guilty, (2) not guilty, or (3) nolo contendere (the defendant's decision not to plead either guilty or not guilty). There is also a fourth plea of insanity in some jurisdictions. When the defendant chooses to enter a guilty plea, the right to a trial and deliberation, which could possibly lead to a reduced sentence, is waived. The plea is generally announced at arraignment, which occurs when formal charges for any given offense are brought against the defendant in court.
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