Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: MUTE
Definition: A mute is a person who cannot speak or chooses not to speak, especially when required to answer or plead in a legal setting. In the past, if a prisoner stood mute, a jury was called to determine if they were intentionally mute or mute due to a physical condition. Nowadays, if a prisoner is mute by malice, the officer automatically enters a plea of not guilty and the trial proceeds. If the prisoner is deemed to be insane, they are kept in custody until the Crown decides what to do.
A mute is a person who is unable to speak or chooses to remain silent when required to answer or plead. In legal terms, a prisoner who stands mute is one who refuses to enter a plea in court.
The examples illustrate that a mute is someone who cannot or chooses not to speak. In the legal context, standing mute is a refusal to enter a plea, which can have consequences for the trial proceedings.