NORTH CAROLINA CRIMINAL COURT — PLEA

Nolo Contendere Plea

G.S. 15A-1011 · No contest plea requiring court consent. Fill in case details and download a court-ready PDF instantly.
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01ATTORNEY INFORMATION
02CASE INFORMATION
03PLEA TERMS
04BASIS FOR NOLO CONTENDERE

Check all that apply. These grounds will appear in the PDF to support the request for court consent.

05WAIVER OF RIGHTS

By entering this plea, the defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the following constitutional rights:

06IMPORTANT NOTICE — NOLO EFFECTS

NOLO CONTENDERE — LEGAL EFFECTS

CANNOT be used as an admission in a civil case arising from the same conduct. (G.S. 15A-1011(c))

CAN be used to enhance sentence in future criminal cases, just as a guilty plea or conviction.

Court consent required — the presiding judge must agree to accept this plea; there is no right to enter nolo.

This form includes these notices in the PDF so the defendant and court are fully informed.

NOLO CONTENDERE — KEY RULES

  • "No contest" — not an admission of guilt
  • Court consent required under G.S. 15A-1011
  • Cannot be used as civil admission (G.S. 15A-1011(c))
  • CAN be used for future criminal enhancement
  • Judge conducts same inquiry as for guilty plea
  • Often used when civil suit is pending or expected
  • DA must consent or be given opportunity to object

STATUTORY REFERENCE

G.S. 15A-1011Nolo plea procedure
G.S. 15A-1012Plea voluntariness
G.S. 15A-1022Plea inquiry required
G.S. 15A-1023Plea agreement procedure

NOLO vs. ALFORD

  • Both preserve factual innocence claim
  • Nolo = no contest to the charge; Alford = guilty while maintaining innocence
  • Nolo protects against civil admission; Alford does not
  • Both require full waiver of trial rights

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