not guilty — n 1: a plea by a criminal defendant who intends to contest the charges compare guilty, nolo contendere ◇ Under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, if a defendant refuses to plead or if the defendant is a corporation that fails to appear the… … Law dictionary
not guilty — Plea entered by the accused to criminal charge. If the defendant refuses to plead, the court will enter a plea of not guilty. See e.g. Fed.R.Crim.P. 11. Also, the form of the verdict in criminal cases where the jury acquits the defendant; i.e.… … Black's law dictionary
not guilty — Plea entered by the accused to criminal charge. If the defendant refuses to plead, the court will enter a plea of not guilty. See e.g. Fed.R.Crim.P. 11. Also, the form of the verdict in criminal cases where the jury acquits the defendant; i.e.… … Black's law dictionary
enter a plea of not guilty — enter a plea of guilty/not guilty ► LAW to officially state that you are guilty/not guilty of a crime in a court of law Main Entry: ↑enter … Financial and business terms
not guilty — 1. noun a) A formal plea by a defendant of not being culpable for the crime with which the defendant is charged. If you do not plead, a plea of not guilty will be entered for you. b) A verdict or formal finding by the legal system that a… … Wiktionary
not guilty — See plea of not guilty … Ballentine's law dictionary
not guilty by reason of insanity — not guilty by rea·son of insanity 1: a plea by a criminal defendant who intends to raise an insanity defense used in jurisdictions that require such a plea in order for an insanity defense to be presented 2: a verdict rendered by a jury in a… … Law dictionary
verdict of not guilty — An acquittal of the accused in a criminal case. A proper form of verdict in a civil case where the issue is raised by a plea of not guilty. Peters v Johnson, Jackson & Co. 50 W Va 644, 41SE 190 … Ballentine's law dictionary
not guilty — /nɒt ˈgɪlti/ (say not giltee) noun 1. the plea to a criminal charge where the accused wants to put the prosecution to the task of proving his or her guilt. 2. a subsequent verdict signifying the prosecution s failure to establish the accused s… …
not guilty by statute — In old English practice, a plea of the general issue by a defendant in a civil action, when he intends to give special matter in evidence by virtue of some act or acts of parliament, in which case he must add the reference to such act or acts,… … Black's law dictionary
