special plea

American  

noun

Law.

1. a plea that alleges special or new matter as an answer to the allegations made by the opposite side and not as a denial of them.

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Etymology

Origin of special plea

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

It's a special plea for a form of moral reckoning, one that worship of the marketplace has made impossible.

From Salon

"The special plea is dismissed," Judge Piet Koen said.

From Reuters

"I make a special plea to women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding. There is no impediment to you getting your vaccine," he said.

From BBC

And he made a special plea for the government to make good on its promise to invest in the north of England.

From BBC

Her scheduled arrival in Iowa so excited Mr. Booker that it took a special plea from Ira Lit, his college roommate who is volunteering in Iowa for the campaign, to get the senator to agree that after 15 hours of campaigning he needed to go to his hotel, shower, rest and wait for Ms. Dawson, rather than drive another hour to meet her at the airport.

From New York Times