What does "nolo contendere" mean in Louisiana criminal law?

In Louisiana criminal law, "nolo contendere," or "no contest," refers to a situation where the defendant accepts a conviction without admitting guilt. This plea allows the defendant to avoid the admission of guilt in a way that can be beneficial in certain situations, particularly when considering potential civil liability.

When a defendant enters a plea of nolo contendere, it operates similarly to a guilty plea in that it results in a conviction, but the defendant does not officially admit to the crime. This distinction can be important because it may prevent the plea from being used against the defendant in subsequent civil litigation related to the same act.

In Louisiana, this plea is accepted by the court under certain conditions and has distinctive implications, especially when analyzing how it interacts with the legal rights of a defendant. Therefore, the choice stating that the defendant accepts conviction without admitting guilt captures the essence of what "nolo contendere" means in the context of Louisiana law.