What is Nolo Contendere in Phoenix, AZ?

by Aaron Black • September 28, 2017
Nolo Contendere in Phoenix, AZNolo Contendere in Phoenix is commonly referred to as pleading No Contest or Standing Mute. Pronounced “NO-lo kawn-TAWN-dray,” it is Latin for “I will not contest.” I strongly urge you to contact a Criminal Defense Attorney before entering a No Contest plea.

3 Types of pleas when facing criminal charges in Phoenix

  • Nolo Contendere (No Contest) is a less common plea and it is similar to accepting a guilty plea without actually admitting guilt. When you enter this plea you hold that you are not admitting guilt to a criminal or DUI offense and you accept the conviction, penalties and charges the Judge orders without challenging the charges and evidence at trial.
After a No Contest plea is entered the Judge will immediately proceed with sentencing. If you are facing felony charges sentencing may be set at a later date by the Judge.
  • A Not Guilty plea may be entered on your behalf by your Criminal defense attorney in Phoenix. A not guilty plea is a denial of guilt. The burden of proof therein lies with the State and the Prosecution to prove that you are guilty of the criminal charges against you.
A Not Guilty plea at the arraignment will then proceed to a PTC (Pre-trial Conference) or a formal trial date.
  • A Guilty plea is admitting that you committed the criminal act that you are charged with and you have no legal defense for your actions. When you plead guilty you are waiving your right to retain a criminal defense attorney to defend you against the charges.
After a Guilty plea is entered in court the Judge will usually proceed with sentencing unless you are facing felony charges. Felony sentencing is generally set at a later date and time.

Arraignment

At the arraignment you will be advised of the formal misdemeanor charges against you and the court will determine if you are entitled to a public defender. Public defenders are appointed if you are indigent and the prosecution is seeking jail time for the crime that you have been charged with.

Often times, arraignments are merely a formality and very little happens. In fact, if you hire a private criminal defense attorney prior to the Arraignment date, your attorney will most likely file a Notice of Appearance, enter a Not Guilty Plea, and waive your appearance. Your case will then be set for a pre-trial conference (PTC). A pre-trial conference is a court setting in which the status of your case will be reviewed by the court.

Pre-Trial Conference

At the Initial Pre-Trial Conference in Superior Court, the trial date is typically set. The IPTC is usually when the prosecutor makes the first plea offer. Typically this is a very short hearing in the morning with about twenty other individuals who are all set for the same kind of hearing at the same time and the defendant will do very little talking, and he/she will only say his/her name and your lawyer will do the rest

In municipal and justice courts a Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) is prearranged after the arraignment. These hearing are less formal than the Initial Pre-Trial Conference in Superior Court. At the Pre-Trial Conference, a plea offer is usually made. At the PTC it is rare for the defendant to appear before the judge unless a plea offer is entered into.

If you have been charged with a crime and are thinking about pleading Nolo Contendere, do not go alone! Contact Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney Aaron Black or call 480-729-1683 for guidance, counseling, and a ferocious defense.
 

About the Author

Aaron Black is the founder and sole attorney of the Law Office of Aaron Black. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, his DUI and criminal defense law firm provides legal services to people who have received felony or misdemeanor charges from the state.

Aaron has developed a strong interest in defending people who have been arrested and received criminal charges for driving under the influence. With his professionalism and knowledge of Arizona DUI and criminal law, he has acted as a check and balance on the police, prosecution and courts and has protected a great number of his clients from excessive and unfair sentencing.

Along with DUI defense, Aaron handles a range of other criminal matters, including aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, drug possession, drug trafficking, fraud defense, insurance fraud, sex crimes and white-collar crime.

After graduating college in 2003 from the University of Arizona, Aaron decided to pursue a law degree. He followed a family long tradition and went to the University of South Dakota School of Law where he pursued his goal of becoming a criminal defense lawyer.

After passing the Arizona and South Dakota bar exams, Aaron joined the Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender where he defended hundreds of people charged with serious criminal offenses. His work as a public defender helped him sharpen his litigation skills and gave him a unique insight into the Arizona criminal justice system.

Over the course of his 15-year legal career, Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time in both Arizona justice, municipal, state and federal courts. He has argued over 50 jury trials, tried over 100 bench trials and has become one of the highest-rated criminal and DUI defense attorneys in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. He has received a 10/10 rating from the legal directory Avvo because of his legal background and successful case record. Since 2014, he has received the Super Lawyer rating for his work as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.

You can review Aaron’s Attorney Bio page for more information about his background, education and experience as a Phoenix DUI and criminal defense attorney.
 
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