initial appearance
In New Zealand, what you talk of is "plea-bargaining" and does not mean the criminal is not sentenced or that the case is dismissed, but it does mean the criminal or prosecution will get lesser of a sentence eg less money to pay, or less of a sentence in jail.
In criminal cases, the City or County Attorney will offer a sentencing option. This can incorporate jail time, fines, community service, restitution IN a variety of combinations, depending on the standard for the jurisdiction. An unrepresented defendant (pro se) may opt to accept this offer and chose to enter a guilty plea. Plea bargaining is done between a defense attorney and the prosecutor and a plea agreement s reached or the case is set for trial. Many defendants who do not qualify for a court-appointed attorney but have limited funds, chose to accept the initial offer and thus there is no plea bargaining.
At Arraignment.
Examples of pretrial activities include bail hearings, plea bargaining, discovery of evidence, motions hearings, and pretrial conferences. These activities occur before a trial begins and are essential for preparing the case for trial.
A plea bargain is a negotiated agreement between a defendant and prosecutor, where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or receives a more lenient sentence in exchange for avoiding a trial. Plea bargaining occurs frequently in the legal system, often making up over 90% of criminal cases, primarily due to the desire to save time and resources. Legal issues involved can include the defendant's rights, potential coercion, and the fairness of the agreement. Advantages include reduced sentences and case resolution efficiency, while disadvantages can involve the risk of innocent individuals pleading guilty and potential pressure on defendants to accept unfavorable deals.
A prosecutor may choose not to offer a plea bargain in a criminal case if they believe the evidence is strong enough to secure a conviction at trial, or if the crime is serious and they want to seek a harsher punishment for the defendant.
Not familiar with the terminology "throw out plea," but it sounds as if the defense attorney is offering ("throwing out") the offer of a plea bargain in exchange for a pleading his client guilty to a lesser offense.
Plea bargaining can be beneficial for both the victim and the perpetrator in some cases by avoiding the trauma of a trial and securing a quicker resolution. However, some victims may feel that plea bargains do not adequately punish the offender or provide them with the closure they seek. Ultimately, the fairness of a plea bargain to the victim depends on the individual circumstances of the case.
A plea date is a scheduled court date when a defendant is expected to enter a plea in response to criminal charges. During this hearing, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The plea date is crucial in the legal process as it often determines the direction of the case, including potential plea negotiations or trial preparations.
This really needs advice from an attorney in PA- but yes, it MAY. A plea of "no contest" is treated as a plea of guilty in many criminal proceedings. Will depend on the specific case, and the offense.
In a criminal case, a charge is the specific criminal act that the accused is alleged to have committed. For example, a person could be charged with murder or possession of a controlled substance. A plea is the defendant's formal response. Typically, the defendant can plead guilty or not guilty, and sometimes nolo contendre.
civil trial is a settlement criminal trial is a plea agreement