“Nolo Contendere” Pleas in Georgia: What It Means When You Say “I’m Not Saying I Did It… But I’m Not Fighting It Either”

If you’ve spent any time in a Georgia courtroom (or even just watching too much Law & Order), you’ve probably heard the phrase “nolo contendere.” It’s Latin for “I do not wish to contend.” In plain English? You’re not admitting guilt — but you’re not fighting the charge, either.Sounds like a clever loophole, right? Well, not exactly.

What Is a Nolo Contendere Plea?

When a defendant pleads nolo contendere (or simply “nolo”), they’re telling the judge:

“I’m not admitting I did it, but I’ll accept the punishment as if I had.”

In Georgia, a nolo plea is treated the same as a guilty plea for criminal sentencing, but with one sometimes-important twist — it can’t be used against you as an admission of guilt in a related civil case.  if your traffic ticket or misdemeanor charge overlaps with a potential civil lawsuit (say, a car accident case), a nolo plea helps keep you from basically handing the other side Exhibit A.

When a Nolo Plea Can Help

Georgia law gives judges discretion to accept or reject a nolo plea — it’s not an automatic right. Judges often consider them only in limited circumstances, such as:

• Traffic offenses where you’re trying to avoid points on your driver’s license

• Minor misdemeanors where there’s no victim or restitution involved

• Cases with potential civil liability — for example, after a wreck, you want to resolve your citation without admitting fault

If the judge accepts your plea, it’s often seen as a practical way to resolve a case without all the courtroom drama.

What “No Lo” Isn’t

A nolo plea isn’t a magic “get out of jail free” card. Many Georgia judges won’t accept it for certain serious offenses — including some DUIs, some drug charges, violent crimes, and many offenses involving a named victim. No lo pleas do not mean you don’t have to do whatever the terms of your sentence are. No lo p,eas also do not always prevent drivers license suspension: in O.C.G.A. § 40-13-63, for example, the law in Georgia specifically provides that a nolo contendere plea cannot prevent license suspension for DUI or other serious traffic violations.

In short: a nolo plea can sometimes help minimize collateral damage, but it doesn’t erase the consequences.

Why You Should Talk to a Lawyer First

Here’s the kicker — a nolo plea counts as a conviction for most purposes. That means it can still affect your record, insurance, employment, and background checks. And if the judge rejects it (which they can), you might end up worse off than if you’d negotiated a standard plea.

Before saying “nolo” in open court, talk to a lawyer who knows the local judges, prosecutors, and how the plea will play out in your specific county.

The Bottom Line

A nolo contendere plea can be a smart move in the right case — but an experienced criminal defense lawyer can be an important tool in deciding if it makes sense for your case.

If you’re facing charges in Coastal Georgia and wondering whether nolo is the right play, call an attorney who can help you make that decision before you stand in front of the bench trying out your Latin.

KWW Law

Protecting Rights. Defending Futures.