The clerk may ask the defendant how he or she wants to plead. This statement is:

• A. Yes, the clerk can ask and record the plea.
• B. The defendant must plead by jury.
• C. The clerk can determine the plea.
• D. No, the clerk may not ask; the plea is entered by the court.

Answer: (D)

Plea entry is a court function during arraignment. The clerk handles administrative tasks—records, scheduling, and guiding the process—but the formal act of accepting and recording the defendant’s plea is done by the court. The defendant states whether they plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest in court, and the judge officially enters that plea into the record. Because of that, the idea that the clerk would determine or enter the plea isn’t correct—the court holds that responsibility. The other notions—such as pleading being done by a jury or the clerk alone determining the plea—don’t align with how pleas are governed in court.