Editing Plea (section)

===Peremptory pleas===
{{Main|Peremptory plea}}

These pleas claim that a case cannot proceed for some reason. They are so-called because, rather than being an answer to the question of guilt or innocence, they are a claim that the matter of guilt or innocence should not be considered.

They are:
*'''''autrefois convict''''' (or '''''autrefois''''' '''''acquit''''') – where under the doctrine of [[double jeopardy]], the accused has been previously convicted or acquitted of the same charge and hence cannot be tried again.
*plea of pardon – where the accused has been [[Pardon|pardoned]] for the offense.