South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-7-2. (Rule 11(a)) Pleas permitted to defendant–Requirements for plea of guilty or nolo contendere
A defendant may plead:
(1) Not guilty;
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-7-2
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- 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.
- 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.
(2) Not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity;
(3) Guilty;
(4) Nolo contendere; or
(5) Guilty but mentally ill.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere can only be entered by a defendant himself in open court. If a defendant refuses to plead, or if the court refuses to accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the court shall enter a plea of not guilty. The court may not enter a judgment unless it is satisfied that there is a factual basis for any plea except a plea of nolo contendere.
Source: Supreme Court Rule 389, 1939; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 34.3520; SDCL, § 23-35-16; SL 1978, ch 178, § 92; SL 1980, ch 179, § 1; SL 1983, ch 174, § 5.