Self Defense

A self defense claim may keep you out of jail if you've been charged with an assault type crime.

When considering self defense an important consideration is whether your defense was justified.

If your actions in self defense were justified, then you walk.

For your actions to be justified they must be "reasonable."

Whether or not something was "reasonable" is a question for the jury.

I believe you should never plea guilty to any assault if you believe you were reasonably protecting yourself. Self Defense trials are ussually heavily fact intensive, and have a lot to deal with how the event is framed to the jury. I set almost all of my self defense cases for trial very early to send a message to the prosecution that they aren't getting away with this one so easily.

The last 4 self defense cases I've had have been dismissed.