What does the term "nolo contendere" mean in the context of the CCP?

The term "nolo contendere," often translated as "I do not wish to contend," is used in legal proceedings to describe a specific type of plea. When a defendant enters a nolo contendere plea, they are neither admitting guilt nor contesting the charges. Instead, they are accepting the consequences of the charges as if they were guilty. This means that while the defendant does not admit to the crime, they acknowledge that the court has sufficient evidence to convict them and thus choose to accept the punishment that comes with a guilty plea.

This type of plea can be strategically advantageous for a defendant, particularly in cases where the implications of a guilty plea could have further legal or civil repercussions beyond criminal sentencing. For example, a nolo contendere plea typically cannot be used against the defendant in subsequent civil lawsuits related to the same incident, which is not the case with a plea of guilty.

The other options do not accurately describe the nature of a nolo contendere plea, making it clear that the correct understanding is that it is a plea where the defendant accepts the punishment without admitting guilt.