Nolo Contendere (No Contest Plea)

"Nolo contendere," or a "no contest" plea, is a legal option in criminal cases where a defendant neither admits nor disputes the charges. By choosing this plea, the defendant accepts the consequences of a conviction without formally pleading guilty. This means the court treats it like a guilty plea for sentencing, but it cannot be used against the defendant in later civil lawsuits related to the same incident. Essentially, it allows the defendant to avoid a prolonged legal battle while not conceding their guilt.