Pleas

(a) Alternatives. — (1) In General. — A defendant may plead not guilty, not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency, guilty, or nolo contendere. If a defendant refuses to plead or if a defendant corporation fails to appear, the court shall enter a plea of not guilty. (A) Nolo Contendere. — A defendant may plead nolo contendere only with the consent of the court. Such a plea shall be accepted by the court only after due consideration of the views of the parties and the interest of the public in the effective administration of justice. (B) Mental Illness or Deficiency. — A plea of “not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency” may be pleaded orally or in writing by the defendant or the defendant’s counsel at the time of the defendant’s arraignment or at such later time as the court may for good cause permit. Such a plea does not deprive the defendant of other defenses and may be coupled with a plea of not guilty. (2) Conditional Pleas. — With the approval of the court and the consent of the attorney for the state, a defendant may enter a conditional plea of guilty 25 RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE