What does a 'nolo contendere' plea signify in a criminal case?

A 'nolo contendere' plea, also known as a no contest plea, signifies that the defendant neither admits nor disputes the charge. This type of plea has specific legal implications; while it does not admit guilt, it allows a court to treat the plea similarly to a guilty plea for the purposes of sentencing. By entering a nolo contendere plea, the defendant acknowledges that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction but avoids the potential consequences of admitting wrongdoing.

This plea is particularly useful in cases where the defendant wishes to avoid the personal admission of guilt, which could have repercussions in related civil suits that might arise from the same conduct. Thus, the plea allows the defendant to resolve the criminal case without taking a clear stance on the merits of the charges while still accepting the penalty imposed by the court.