Alford plea
Definition of Alford plea
law
: a guilty plea entered by a criminal defendant who does not admit guilt but nevertheless pleads guilty as part of a plea bargain After a lunch break, Garcia decided to enter an Alford plea in return for a reduced charge of injury by conduct regardless of life on one of the two attempted murder counts. — State v. Garcia, 532 N. W.2d 111 (Wis. 1995) — see also alford doctrine, nolo contendere
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Origin and Etymology of alford plea
after North Carolina vs. Alford, U.S. Supreme Court case (1970) that sanctioned such a plea
First Known Use: 1973
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