Talk:Nolo contendere

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[edit] Reasons for a Nolo plea

I would like to understand why this is an option for a plea. What's the justice system's reasoning for having this? --geekyßroad^{. meow?} 19:48, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

The reason for this plea is to help protect a person from civil litigation as the result of committing a crime. It leaves more burden of proof on a litgant against the accused person.

Although it is nice to think there is a "reason," like most aspects of law it is something that was inherited and modified to fit the circumstances. I have seen many nolo pleas, and they are almost always offered so as to convince the defendant to plead out by offering the spector of innocence. I have only heard of it a few times in felony cases, though it is probably more common in some places.Manney 14:05, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

Could it be of any use in, say, death penalty case? If you plead guilty, you might get away with a life sentence; if you plead innocent and are found guilty, you may get executed - so is it possible to plead "nolo", get away with a life sentence but still let it be known that you say that you are innocent, but essentially want to plead guilty and save the court having to try you?

If the prosecution and judge accepted a nolo plea in return for life, I don't see why not. It would only be part of a plea bargain though.Mneumisi 03:17, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Latin Translation

"Nolo contendere" is Latin and literally means "I do not want to contend it." Are people sure? My latin would give a literal translation of "I am unwilling to contend/contest" - with no object pronoun. lxowle 22:15, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

Sometimes translations cannot be translated word for word. There are many translations like this. Or use inter-changeable words. "Do not want" means the same thing as "unwilling". I suppose it just varies on what they go by or who translated. DiamondTKE (talk) 06:20, 11 January 2008 (UTC)