legal_procedure

Civil cases can be dismissed on several recognized legal grounds that address whether a court has the power to decide a case and whether the plaintiff’s claim is legally suffi...

To plead no contest, often written as nolo contendere, is for a defendant to tell the court they will not contest the charges without admitting guilt. Unlike a guilty plea, a no...

Nolle prosequi is a formal notice by a prosecutor that they will no longer pursue a specific charge in a criminal case. When entered on the record, it stops prosecution of that...

A void judgment is a court decision a judge treats as nonexistent from the outset, often because due process was not followed or the court lacked jurisdiction. Unlike a judgment...

A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant pleads guilty, typically to a lesser charge or to only some charges, in exchange for a more favorable outco...