# Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.020: 546.020 Plea of not guilty, not formally tendered

> Missouri · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.020

## Section

- **Citation:** Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.020
- **Heading:** 546.020 Plea of not guilty, not formally tendered
- **Jurisdiction:** Missouri
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MO Code / Chapter 546 / Section 546.020

## Text

546.020. Plea of not guilty, not formally tendered. — When a person shall be arraigned upon any indictment or information, it shall not be necessary to ask him how he will be tried; and if he deny the charge in any form, or require a trial, or if he refuse to plead or answer and in all cases when he does not confess the charge to be true, a plea of not guilty shall be entered, and the same proceedings shall be had, in all respects, as if he had formally pleaded not guilty to such indictment or information; provided, however, that no judgment rendered in any criminal case shall be reversed, set aside or for naught held for the reason that the record does not show that the defendant was arraigned and a plea of not guilty entered, where a trial was had in all respects as though the defendant had been arraigned and had formally tendered the general issue under a plea of not guilty.

(RSMo 1939 § 4004) Prior revisions: 1929 § 3615; 1919 § 3958; 1909 § 5165 (1951) Where jury was present when information was read and was permitted to hear defendant's refusal to plead thereto but where court gave instruction that information "is a mere formal statement ... and is no evidence whatever of his guilt" there was no prejudicial error. State v. Lamb (Mo.), 239 S.W.2d 496.

## Nearby sections

- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.010 546.010 Proceedings upon information, how conducted.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.010.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.020 546.020 Plea of not guilty, not formally tendered.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.020.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.030 546.030 Prisoner must be present in court, when.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.030.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.040 546.040 Issues of fact to be tried by jury.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.040.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.050 546.050 Misdemeanors may be tried by court.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.050.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.060 546.060 Practice in civil case to apply, when.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.060.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.070 546.070 Order of trial — instructions, requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.070.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.080 546.080 Variance between charge and proof.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.080.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.090 546.090 Court may amend record, when — clerk to certify corrections.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.090.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.095 546.095 Offense not cognizable before associate circuit judge — procedure.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.095.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.250 546.250 Person injured may testify.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.250.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.260 546.260 Defendant may testify in own behalf — spouse may testify for husband or ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.260.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.262 546.262 Domestic assault, victim and victim's family not to be compelled to testify ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.262.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 546.263 546.263 Domestic assault, victim may testify by video conference — local court rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.263.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C546_S546.020. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.