The efficacy of the question 'How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?' is discussed and analyzed in the light of the etymology of the word 'guilt'. A survey of alternative approaches to pleadings was carried out, involving questionnaires returned by twenty-six countries (out of sixty-four submissions). The authors conclude that our system of justice would be better served by the elimination or modification of the question 'How do you plead, guilty or not guilty?'.