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Terms Used In Texas Government Code 54.1362

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • 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.

A district judge or a county court at law judge may refer to a criminal law hearing officer any criminal case for proceedings involving:
(1) a bond forfeiture;
(2) the arraignment of defendants;
(3) the determination of whether a defendant is indigent and the appointment of counsel for an indigent defendant; and
(4) a negotiated plea of guilty or nolo contendere before the court, in accordance with Article 26.13, Code of Criminal Procedure.