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Alford plea

American  
[al-ferd] / ˈæl fərd /

noun

  1. Law. a pleading of guilty in a plea bargain in which a defendant maintains their innocence.


Etymology

Origin of Alford plea

From the 1970 case North Carolina v. ( Henry C. ) Alford

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was under these circumstances that Williams and the DA reached a deal: Williams would agree to an Alford plea, whereby he would maintain his innocence but agree to serve a life sentence.

From Slate • Oct. 9, 2024

Leo Wise urged Scarsi to reject the Alford plea, stating that doing so would be “contrary to the rule of law” and “an injustice.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2024

The president's son would like to submit what is known as an Alford plea, a rare form of plea allowing defendants to maintain their innocence while accepting a guilty verdict and sentence.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2024

He was charged with a single count of racketeering conspiracy and entered an Alford plea last December, meaning he maintains his innocence but recognizes that it’s in his best interest to plead guilty.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 28, 2023

As part of the agreement, Kitchens entered into an Alford plea, which permits defendants to maintain their innocence while pleading guilty.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2023

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