plea

nouns

a humble request for help from someone in authority
plea, supplication
(law) a defendant's answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer)
plea
domain category
the collection of rules imposed by authority
"civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
jurisprudence, law
is a type of (narrower)
the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
answer
an answer indicating why a suit should be dismissed
plea
is a part of
(law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
"he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"
trial
domain category
the collection of rules imposed by authority
"civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
jurisprudence, law
is a type of (narrower)
(law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards
due process, due process of law