A. Except when otherwise provided under Paragraph B of this Article or by local rule in accordance with Articles 551 and 562, the defendant in a felony case shall plead in person. In misdemeanor cases, the defendant may plead not guilty through counsel, may plead guilty through counsel with consent of the court, may appear at arraignment, at the entry of his plea of guilty, or both, by way of simultaneous audio-visual transmission in accordance with local rules of court and Articles 551 and 562, and may plead and be arraigned in accordance with procedures established according to R.S. 32:57(C). A corporation may plead through counsel in all cases. The plea shall be made in open court and shall be immediately entered in the minutes of the court. A failure to enter a plea in the minutes shall not affect the validity of any proceeding in the case. A. Except when otherwise provided under Paragraph B of this Article or by local rule in accordance with Articles 551 and 562, the defendant in a felony case shall plead in person. In misdemeanor cases, the defendant may plead not guilty through counsel, may plead guilty through counsel with consent of the court, may appear and enter his plea of guilty by way of simultaneous audio-visual transmission in accordance with local rules of court and Articles 551 and 562, and may plead and be arraigned in accordance with procedures established according to R.S. 32:57(C). A corporation may plead through counsel in all cases. The plea shall be made in open court and shall be immediately entered in the minutes of the court. A failure to enter a plea in the minutes shall not affect the validity of any proceeding in the case. C. Repealed by Acts 2020, No. 160,s. 2
