: a legal doctrine under which a criminal defendant who does not admit guilt is allowed to plead guilty as part of a plea bargain provided the plea is made voluntarily and with knowledge of the consequences
The Alford doctrine provides that a court may accept a knowing and voluntary plea of guilty from a defendant, even though the defendant maintains his innocence, provided the trial judge determines that there is a factual basis for the plea.—Crofoot v. United States, 761 F. 2d 661 (Fed. Cir. 1985)
see also alford plea
Word History
Etymology
after North Carolina vs. Alford, U.S. Supreme Court case (1970) that resulted in the doctrine
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