Something (including testimony, documents, and tangible objects) that tends to prove or disprove the existence of an alleged…, amendment.1. When that’s exactly what the defendant is doing! The Court ruled that the defendant can enter such a plea "when he concludes that his interests require a guilty plea and the record strongly indicates guilt". Alford plea. Although the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Alford and found that the plea was made involuntarily, the US Supreme Court disagreed. Ac­cord­ing to Uni­ver­sity of Rich­mond Law Re­view, "When of­fer­ing an Al­ford plea, a de­fen­dant as­serts hi… Legal Definition and Examples, What Is Racketeering? With an Alford plea, the defendant -- typically only with the court's permission -- accepts all the ramifications of a guilty verdict (i.e., punishment) without first attesting to having committed the crime. Linguists call the implication of this belief Presupposition. Alford plea definition: a pleading of guilty in a plea bargain in which the defendant maintains his or her... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples A formal revision or addition proposed or made to a statute, constitution, pleading, order, or other instrument; specif., a…, Alford plea blind plea. The defense struck a deal with the prosecution: Alford would plead guilty to second-degree murder.Alford told the judge, under oath, that he didn’t commit the crime. In this plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. The 4th Circuit Court ruled that the court should have rejected the plea which was involuntary because it was made under fear of the death penalty. ? A guilty plea made without the promise of a concession from either the judge or the prosecutor. Cf.…, Search our termbase for authentic interpretation of 150,000+ legal terms, evidence, n.1. 1970s from the name of Henry C. Alford, appellant in the US Supreme Court case of North Carolina v. Alford (1970), which ruled that such a plea was valid. Alford filed a post-conviction relief action after his guilty plea, and then a habeas action in federal court, arguing that his guilty plea was invalid because it was coerced by the threat of death. Al•ford plea (al′fərd), USA pronunciation. not . Something (including testimony, documents, and tangible objects) that tends to prove or disprove the existence of an alleged…, AMENDMENT amendment.1. An Alford plea is simply a form of a guilty plea, and, as with other guilty pleas, the judge must see there is some factual basis for the plea. 160 (1970). It is the prospect of an ultimate dismissal of charges which engenders most pleas of this type. NO CONTEST . The Alford Plea originated from a 1963 trial in North Carolina. However, in many states, such as Massachusetts, a plea which "admits sufficient facts" more typically results in the case being continued without a finding and later dismissed. Lawa pleading of guilty in a plea bargain in which the defendant maintains his or her innocence. . 法律词汇 / ALFORD PLEA. His lawyer recommended that he plead guilty to second-degree murder in order to avoid being sentenced to death, which was the likely sentence he would receive in North Carolina at that time. A judge may accept such a plea only if it is made voluntarily, competently, with an understanding of the nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea, and when the judge is satisfied that there is a factual ? In this plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. The rare plea serves as a final resort to avoid trial or a severe sentence for those who are indeed guilty. ], EVIDENCE evidence, n.1. It is not an admission of guilt. . This plea is not considered compelled within the language of the Fifth Amendment if the plea represents a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent choice between the available options (the defendant — realizing the strength of the prosecution’s evidence and not wanting to risk receiving the death penalty … In the law of the United States, an Alford plea (also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia) is a plea in criminal court. The trial court verdict was then vacated. By taking an Alford plea, defendants are admitting only that the state's case is strong enough to convict them, not that they are in fact guilty. Language; Watch; Edit; The following is an incomplete list of notable individuals that have entered an Alford plea. The Alford plea unambiguously maintains innocence while a nolo contendre plea simply does not admit guilt. A Barr plea is not the same as an Alford (Newton) plea because the defendant is not explicitly asserting actual innocence. This list of U.S. states by Alford plea usage … Charles Montaldo is a writer and former licensed private detective who worked with law enforcement and insurance firms investigating crime and fraud. Instead, he accepts that the state’s evidence would convict him in … Though there were no witnesses to the crime, witness testimony showed that Alford went home to get a gun and stated his intention of killing the victim. "When confronted with the witness testimony and forensic evidence, he takes what’s called an Alford Plea. And to add to the cruelty of these judges and lawyers, apparently in order to prevent an appeal (as indicated in this blog), the judge makes the defendant declare “I am not taking this plea under pressure or duress”. "I just pleaded guilty because they said if I didn't, they would gas me for it," wrote Alford in one of his appeals. In this plea, the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty. The Court also noted that even if the defendant could have shown that he would not have entered a guilty plea "but for" the rationale of receiving a lesser sentence, the plea itself would not have been ruled invalid. Primary tabs. A defendant making an Alford plea maintains his innocence of the offense charged. Language; Watch; Edit; Active discussions ↓ ↓ Skip to table ... → Alford Plea: A plea of guilty that may be accepted by a court even where the defendant does not admit guilt. Alford Plea. Because evidence existed that could have supported Alford's conviction, the Supreme Court ruled that his guilty plea was permitted while the defendant himself still maintained that he was not guilty. Peterson's case isn't the only high profile one involving an Alford plea. An Alford plea (also referred to as Alford guilty plea and Alford doctrine) in the law of the United States is a guilty plea in criminal court, where the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence. In entering an Alford plea, the individual essentially enters a plea of guilty, while maintaining a claim of innocence. One example is a situation where the defendant has no recollection of the pertinent events due to intoxication or amnesia. How to use Alford plea in a sentence. The Alford plea gets its name from a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case, North Carolina v. Alford. An Alford plea is a plea that may be entered by a defendant who has been charged with a crime. If I say Please shut the door my request makes it clear that I believe the door to be open, though I have not actually said so (and I may be mistaken). In an Alford plea, defendant has to admit that he has reviewed the state's evidence, a reasonable jury could find him guilty, and he wants to take advantage of a plea offer that has been made. Language; Watch; Edit Initial visibility: currently defaults to autocollapse. C.J.S. Netflix. Alford pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, stating to the court that he was innocent, but only pleading guilty so that he would not receive the death penalty. [fr. (400 U.S. 25 (1970).) A man named Henry Alford had been charged with first degree murder and was facing the death penalty. In United States v.McMurray, 09-5806 (Aug. 4, 2011), the court considered whether a factual basis proffer for purposes of a “best interest plea” under North Carolina v.Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970), which allows a defendant “to enter a plea but . Cf. The Alford plea is treated as a guilty plea for sentencing, yet allows the individual using it to maintain their innocence. Why might a Barr/Zhao plea be a useful alternative for a noncitizen defendant? Cf.…. Alford died in prison in 1975. Colloquially, a plea has come to mean the assertion by a defendant at arraignment, or otherwise in response to a criminal charge, whether that person pleaded guilty, not guilty, no contest or (in the United States) Alford plea. What Is Double Jeopardy? . ALFORD. Today Alford pleas are accepted in every U.S. state except Indiana, Michigan and New Jersey and the United States military. Both are special pleas that defendants or accused persons can use in court. Overview of the Jury Trial Stage of a Criminal Case, The Sixth Amendment: Text, Origins, and Meaning, Padilla v. Kentucky: Supreme Court Case, Arguments, Impact, Criminal Justice and Your Constitutional Rights, The Case of Convicted Killer Jeffrey MacDonald. A guilty plea that a defendant enters as part of a plea bargain, without actually admitting guilt. ? ALFORD PLEA. Alford plea, the accused technically does not acknowledge guilt but concedes there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction. In such a case, the defendant is admitting that, whatever evidence the prosecution has is likely to convince the court he is guilty. The Alford plea is technically a defense as it is neither a full admission of guilt or innocence. The plea is com­monly used in local and state courts in the United States." Also known as a "best-interests plea," an Alford plea registers a formal claim neither of guilt nor innocence toward charges brought against a defendant in criminal court. Henry C. Alford was on trial for first-degree murder and insisted that he was innocent, despite three witnesses who said they heard him say he was going to kill the victim, that he got a gun, left the house and returned saying he had killed him. The Alford plea was established in 1963 after Henry C. Alford was accused of first-degree murder. . A guilty plea that a defendant enters as part of a plea bargain, without actually admitting guilt. However, Alford denied killing the man. This plea is not considered compelled within the language of the Fifth Amendment if the plea represents a voluntary, knowing, and intelligent choice between the available options (the defendant — realizing the strength of the prosecution’s evidence and not wanting to risk receiving the death penalty — entered into an Alford plea).North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. A formal revision or addition proposed or made to a statute, constitution, pleading, order, or other instrument; specif., a…, blind plea. He maintained that he was innocent, but the evidence against him appeared to be strong. Although there were no witnesses to the shooting, the evidence strongly indicated that Alford was guilty. The Alford Plea is similar to a plea of nolo contendre, but they differ in a few major ways. Main article: Alford plea. Criminal Law §§ 365–374. The plea is commonly used in local and state courts in the United States. Alford plea definition, a pleading of guilty in a plea bargain in which the defendant maintains his or her innocence. Alford Plea. An Alford plea allows defendant to plead guilty even while unable or unwilling to admit guilt. The case was next appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that for the plea to be accepted, the defendant must have been advised that his best decision in the case would be to enter a guilty plea. To explore this concept, consider the following Alford plea definition. See more. plea of something (law) a reason given to a court for doing or not doing something. Upon receiving an Alford plea from a defendant, the court may immediately pronounce the defendant guilty and impose sentence as if the defendant had otherwise been convicted of the crime. A plea of Nolo Contendere in Georgia is pretty well-known for anyone who is familiar with the Georgia Criminal Process.But the Alford plea in Georgia is must less common.. In the law of the United States, an Alford plea (also called a Kennedy plea in West Virginia) is a plea in criminal court. Understanding Organized Crime and the RICO Act, The Difference Between Procedural Law and Substantive Law, Overview of the Sentencing Stage in Criminal Cases, The Crimes of Florida Death Row Inmate Tiffany Cole, The Plea Bargain Stage of a Criminal Case, The Murders of Terrance Rankins and Eric Glover. A guilty plea made without the promise of a concession from either the judge or the prosecutor. Therefore, a defendant's prior conviction via an Alford plea can be considered in future trials; and it will count as a "strike" if a three strikes law applies. Alford plea. The Court allowed the guilty plea along with a plea of innocence only because there was enough evidence to show that the prosecution had a strong case for a conviction, and the defendant was entering such a plea to avoid this possible sentencing. [Cases: Criminal Law 273(4.1), 273.1(2). ALFORD PLEA. Alford later appealed his case to federal court, saying that he was coerced into pleading guilty out of fear of the death penalty. These facts cannot support a plea of diminished responsibility. In the law of the United States, an Alford plea is a plea in criminal court. His plea was accepted and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. A guilty plea that a defendant enters as part of a plea bargain, without actually admitting guilt. Template:Alford plea. At that time in North Carolina, an accused who pled guilty to a capital offense could only be sentenced to life in prison, whereas, if the accused took his case to a jury and lost, the jury could vote for the death penalty. These pleas have different names in different jurisdictions, but a are not uncommon - although they usually require the agreement of the prosecution and the court. He was charged with murder, but got off on a plea of insanity. the 1970 case North Carolina v. ( Henry C.) Alford] Forum … The Alford plea is the perfect plea for fast, easy money for all of these people and their secret backdoor deals. Alford plea definition is - a guilty plea entered by a criminal defendant who does not admit guilt but nevertheless pleads guilty as part of a plea bargain. The Dic­tio­nary of Pol­i­tics: Se­lected Amer­i­can and For­eign Po­lit­i­cal and Legal Terms de­fines the term "Al­ford plea" as: "A plea under which a de­fen­dant may choose to plead guilty, not be­cause of an ad­mis­sion to the crime, but be­cause the pros­e­cu­tor has suf­fi­cient ev­i­dence to place a charge and to ob­tain con­vic­tion in court. Do Undocumented Immigrants Have Constitutional Rights? Alford plea. Presupposition An Alford plea is a plea of ‘guilty’ containing a protestation of innocence Legal definition An interesting aspect of meaning is what is called presupposition. A plea under which a defendant may choose to plead guilty, not because of an admission to the crime, but because the prosecutor has sufficient evidence to place a charge and to obtain conviction in court. As a final resort to avoid trial or a severe sentence for those who are indeed guilty or unwilling admit... Innocence while a nolo contendre, but they differ in a plea in court. 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