A plea has legal consequences and should be distinguished from the separate concept of election. Hybrid offences may involve a Crown election, while some indictable offences give an accused choices about mode of trial and court.
Primary legislation and official process sources checked October 5, 2026. Criminal law and court procedure can change; verify the current source before relying on a provision or deadline.
Guilty and not-guilty pleas
A guilty plea must satisfy legal requirements before the court accepts it; a not-guilty plea moves the matter toward trial unless another resolution occurs.
- voluntary plea
- understanding consequences
- admissions
Crown election
For hybrid offences, the prosecution's election affects procedure and available penalties.
- summary election
- indictable election
- procedural consequences
Accused election
Where the Code gives an election, the accused may have choices about the court and mode of trial.
- Provincial Court
- Supreme Court judge alone
- judge and jury
Resolution discussions
Counsel may discuss withdrawal, plea resolution, agreed facts, sentence positions or other lawful resolutions. The judge is not bound by every joint or negotiated position.
- charge resolution
- joint submissions
- agreed statement of facts
Before changing course
Re-election, withdrawal of a plea or reopening an issue can be governed by specific rules and should not be assumed to be automatic.
- re-election
- plea withdrawal
- legal advice
Official and authoritative sources
- Justice Canada — Criminal Code
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid — Criminal Law Resources
- Courts of Nova Scotia — Provincial Court