Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A plea of privilege is a type of plea made by a defendant in a criminal case. It is a request to be exempted from prosecution or punishment due to a special status or circumstance. For example, a member of parliament may plead privilege to avoid being arrested while attending a parliamentary session.
Other types of pleas in criminal cases include:
These pleas are important because they determine the course of the trial and the potential outcome for the defendant.
For example, a guilty plea may result in a shorter sentence or a plea bargain, while a not guilty plea may lead to a trial and the possibility of a longer sentence if convicted.