A no contest plea (Latin: nolo contendere) means you are not contesting the charge.
For the criminal case it works just like a guilty plea — but on a misdemeanor, it cannot be used as an admission in a related civil lawsuit.
What It Means
With a no contest plea, you accept the conviction and sentence without admitting guilt. For every criminal purpose — the conviction, the sentence, immigration, firearm consequences — it is treated the same as a guilty plea.
The Civil-Case Difference
Here is the one real difference. On a misdemeanor, a no contest plea cannot be used against you as an admission in a related civil lawsuit. So if an incident might also lead to someone suing you, a no contest plea avoids handing them a courtroom admission. (On a felony, that protection does not apply.)
Is It the Right Move?
Often, the better question is whether to plead at all — because diversion, civil compromise, or a reduction may end the case without any conviction. Where a plea is the right resolution, a no contest plea can be the smarter form of it. It is a decision to make with counsel, weighing every consequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a no contest plea?
A no contest (nolo contendere) plea means you accept the conviction and sentence without admitting guilt. For every criminal purpose — the conviction, sentence, immigration, and firearm consequences — it is treated the same as a guilty plea.
What is the difference between no contest and guilty?
For the criminal case, there is no practical difference. The one distinction: on a misdemeanor, a no contest plea cannot be used against you as an admission in a related civil lawsuit — useful if the incident might also lead to a civil claim.
Should I plead no contest?
Often the better question is whether to plead at all, since diversion, civil compromise, or a reduction may end the case without a conviction. Where a plea is the right resolution, a no contest plea can be the smarter form of it — a decision to make with counsel.
GuidesComplete Guide to California Misdemeanors · Glossary · Penalties Reference.
Free 30-Minute Consultation
Whether to plead — and how — is a real decision with consequences. Tell me your case and I'll walk you through it.
Schedule Free ConsultationAbout the Author
Ahmed S. Hasan
San Francisco Criminal Defense Attorney · State Bar of California #364992
Ahmed S. Hasan is the founder of ASH Legal, a solo criminal defense practice based in San Francisco. The firm runs on flat-fee representation: one lawyer, one fee, from arraignment through resolution. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices.
Ahmed is a graduate of Emory University School of Law and a member in good standing of the State Bar of California (Bar #364992). His practice focuses on San Francisco misdemeanor defense — DUI, domestic violence, petty theft and shoplifting, drug possession, vandalism, trespassing, and assault and battery — with particular attention to diversion-track outcomes that end in dismissal under PC 1001.95, PC 1001.36 (Mental Health Diversion), PC 1001.80 (Military Diversion), and PC 1001.83 (Parental Caregiver Diversion).
Ahmed previously served as a post-bar clerk with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office, the city's largest indigent-defense practice. He is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley.
He represents clients at the San Francisco Hall of Justice (850 Bryant Street) and the Civic Center Courthouse. The ASH Legal office is at 15 Boardman Place, Suite 301, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Free 30-minute consultations are available by phone or Zoom. (510) 545-6515 · ahmed@ashlegal.com