Rhode Island General Laws 12-17-2. “Not guilty” plea inferred
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If any person on being arraigned for an offense shall stand mute or not answer directly, or shall peremptorily challenge a greater number of the persons summoned as jurors than he or she is by law entitled to challenge, the plea of “not guilty” shall be entered on the record, the supernumerary challenges shall be disregarded, and the trial shall proceed as if the prisoner had pleaded “not guilty” and as if he or she had not made the challenges.
History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 285, § 18; G.L. 1909, ch. 354, § 18; G.L. 1909, ch. 354, § 15; P.L. 1915, ch. 1261, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 407, § 15; G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 15; G.L. 1956, § 12-17-2.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 12-17-2
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- 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.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.