plea

N. plea has come to mean in the popular vernacular the assertion by a criminal defendant...whether he is guilty or not guilty. More generally, a plea is simply an answer to a claim made by someone in a civil or criminal case.

plead

V.

Two US Marines pleaded guilty to giving an Iraqi prisoner electric shocks while they were on guard at Al Mahmudiya prison

plea bargain

N. an agreement to plead guilty in exchange for a lower sentence

pleadings

N. that part of a party's case where the facts and legal arguments which support that party's position are set out.