Rhode Island General Laws 12-10-4. Plea on offense beyond trial jurisdiction of district court
Whenever any person shall be brought before a district court upon a complaint charging him or her with an offense which is not within the jurisdiction of the court to try and determine, the court may, with the written consent of the attorney general or his or her authorized designee, and with a waiver of indictment or information by such person, acting with the benefit of counsel, receive a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and may impose sentence. There shall be no appeal to the superior court. Any district court judge performing these duties shall receive the same salary as a superior court judge would receive.
History of Section.
G.L. 1909, ch. 281, § 41; P.L. 1915, ch. 1258, § 2; G.L. 1923, ch. 331, § 41; G.L. 1938, ch. 501, § 41; G.L. 1956, § 12-10-4; P.L. 1972, ch. 169, § 18; P.L. 2003, ch. 139, § 1.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-10-4
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.