Is a trial judge required to accept guilty plea?

A trial judge is not required to accept a guilty plea. The judge has the discretion to reject a plea if it is not supported by a factual basis or if they believe that accepting the plea would not be in the interest of justice. Additionally, the judge must ensure that the plea is made voluntarily and intelligently. Ultimately, the decision to accept or reject a guilty plea rests with the judge's evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the plea.