The judge has the authority to accept or reject a plea bargain. They will consider the nature of the charges and the defendant's criminal history, if any, as well as the circumstances surrounding the case.
The judge will typically give the defendant the sentence that was agreed to by the defendant and prosecutor. If not, the agreement typically falls apart and the defendant can take away their guilty plea. The judge must decide on a sentence.
Most plea bargains must receive approval from the court, but in some cases, the prosecutor may drop the more serious charges for lesser charges without the court's approval.
They have also been increasing in frequency—they rose from 84% of federal cases in 1984 to 94% by 2001. Plea bargains are subject to the approval of the court, and different States and jurisdictions have different rules. Game theory has been used to analyze the plea bargaining decision.
Court Approval and Plea Agreements in California A judge must approve a plea deal. Once you have reached an agreement with the prosecution, the judge hears the details of the deal. The judge will ask you to confirm that you are voluntarily entering the plea.
Plea bargaining occurs when a District Attorney and defense counsel negotiate the charges to which a defendant will plead guilty, and the defendant consents to the deal. Plea bargaining eliminates the need for a jury trial. The negotiation in San Mateo County occurs in the presence of a judge who sets the sentence.
Instead the courts seal plea agreements on a case-by-case basis under an order by the judge. In these districts, if the agreements aren't ordered to be sealed, they include any cooperation information and are open to the public and available on PACER, the federal online docketing system.
Objective: Alford pleas allow defendants to profess innocence while simultaneously pleading guilty.
In Virginia, a defendant can file a “plea in bar” if a single issue or state of facts creates a bar to the plaintiff's recovery. A defendant who raises a plea in bar has the burden of proof to prove that particular issue or state of facts.
A special plea in bar is when a defendant sets up some extrinsic fact showing why they cannot be tried for the offense charged, such as a plea of pardon or autrefois acquit.