what does that mean? meaning the person pleaded guilty? i thought all cases went to trial.

Yes, unless the trial is waived all cases go to trial. It may not be a hollywood courtroom drama jury trial, in the case of minor stuff (both minor crimes and crimes involving minors) but if you want to be an ass about it you have the right to a jury trial for any case. Even a speeding ticket.

nope it means you plead not guilty, which pisses off the judge and DA because now they gotta work and possibly loose the case. Too many looses mean they may not get re-elected.
So before this happens they offer "A DEAL" like they tell the defendent "look you plead guilty now and instead of 15yrs in prison , which is what you will get if you take this to trial and loose we will give you 5yrs with possible parole in 3yrs. So most take the deal . And the judge and DA win without doing much.

oh ok i see now. if like the evidence is really good, most would just make a deal instead and plead guilty instead of risking doing the time. thanks.

That's not true. I just had a trial for retail theft. I wasn't allowed a jury or even a court appointed lawyer.

Was it juvenile? Juvenile courts have their own set of rules and are a legal limbo outside the rhelm of normal law.

It probably has something to do with the state seizing custody of offending children if the parents don't cooperate or something. Anything a juvenile court can subject you to, your parents can do to you through signing over custody so when you take in to account child protective services seizing custody the authority makes sense.

Oh, it means the defendant plead "not guilty" as far as I know.

Ya either your lying or you're a dumbass who doesn't know his rights.

Which one is it?

Not a juvenile. It was in community court in Philly They specifically told all the defendants that due to the nature of our offenses we were not allowed court appointed lawyers. It's okay though. The cop didn't show up so I was let off.

Were you protesting a fine?

Um. Do you live in the USA?

It's spelled out in the constitution that you have the right to a trial by your peers and by law in this country you also have the right to legal representation, even a court appointed lawyer if you can't afford your own. The only way you don't get these things is if you agree to waive your rights.