When someone makes a plea of nolo contendere (no contest), it means they (the defendant) neither admits guilt nor denies guilt, but accepts conviction as if they pleaded guilty. This is often used when a civil case is tied to the criminal trial. The key features of this plea is as follows:

• Same legal effect as pleading guilty

• Cannot be used as evidence of guilt in civil cases: a nolo contendere cannot be used as evidence against you in a civil case.

• Court discretion:the judge must approve the plea of nolo contendere; it is not a right.