535:. Most notably, innocence, while a complete defense to a criminal charge, is not generally termed "absolute", because it involves a material fact of the pleading. On the other hand, double jeopardy is more likely to be termed an absolute defence; an indictment or (other criminal initiating pleading) does not have to state that the defendant has not previously been tried on the crime, but once a defendant shows that he has been previously tried for a crime, his dismissal is required by the US Constitution.
1811:
400:
1865:
1825:
22:
459:
is not a rigid one. Statutes frequently use the term merely as a synonym to "full" or "complete". It is more often used, however, as a term of art in both criminal and civil law to refer to an underlying set of facts and laws, not raised by the complaint or indictment, which will require the
485:): a person cannot be made to pay damages for a defamatory statement, if the person can show that the statement is true (even if the statement is damaging, and the person said it in bad faith). This is the case in some jurisdictions, including the United States, but not in others, including
527:
Use of the word "absolute" sometimes causes confusion, because even in the law "absolute" is sometimes used simply as a synonym for "full" or "complete". As a term or art, however, there are many
550:, by which the litigant hopes to mitigate the outcome of the litigation, or limit culpability, but the liability is not eliminated. Examples include
463:
Another characteristic of an absolute defence is that, when it is pleaded and proven, it is not subject to mitigation or collateral attack.
430:
1792:
1906:
603:
576:
86:
613:
586:
58:
186:
65:
1218:
776:
675:
105:
39:
523:
with immunity unless it agrees to waive its immunity, usually by legislation allowing specific claims to be brought.
1935:
1332:
1201:
72:
1787:
1134:
1035:
423:
1294:
928:
276:
43:
647:
54:
1454:
933:
1899:
1449:
1424:
923:
416:
1507:
236:
1302:
1284:
281:
179:
1636:
1930:
1677:
1464:
953:
938:
451:) is a factual circumstance or argument that, if proven, will end the litigation in favor of the
32:
1892:
1732:
1717:
266:
261:
79:
1836:
1429:
1107:
918:
506:
502:
291:
460:
defendant's dismissal even if the factual allegations of the complaining pleading are true.
1557:
903:
241:
1880:
8:
1925:
1712:
852:
769:
551:
172:
1527:
1186:
1040:
1025:
1003:
747:
727:
680:
670:
516:
324:
246:
150:
1512:
1434:
1272:
1015:
1010:
963:
888:
882:
722:
640:
609:
582:
286:
202:
1517:
1484:
983:
847:
842:
807:
296:
251:
231:
221:
1766:
1739:
1727:
1707:
1641:
1619:
1599:
1594:
1574:
1439:
1419:
1414:
1317:
1277:
988:
913:
837:
822:
742:
555:
547:
498:
456:
1876:
1843:
1651:
1569:
1158:
1124:
1075:
1060:
832:
737:
717:
707:
520:
380:
226:
160:
501:
case: a person cannot be held criminally liable for battery if they can prove
1919:
1697:
1656:
1542:
1522:
1494:
1444:
1409:
1383:
1378:
1371:
1322:
1262:
1102:
1092:
1050:
973:
968:
898:
857:
781:
1829:
1579:
1547:
1502:
1240:
1235:
1206:
1119:
1097:
1065:
998:
978:
872:
812:
802:
754:
712:
690:
633:
493:
375:
360:
350:
345:
320:
155:
140:
130:
1751:
1692:
1682:
1479:
1474:
1312:
1213:
1129:
1088:
1055:
1020:
943:
867:
817:
732:
486:
1815:
1744:
1624:
1562:
1307:
1228:
1223:
1181:
1163:
1151:
1112:
958:
948:
908:
893:
877:
827:
764:
759:
482:
404:
365:
334:
301:
210:
145:
121:
1864:
1722:
1687:
1629:
1604:
1469:
1366:
1354:
1339:
1327:
1255:
1173:
1146:
1030:
452:
370:
1810:
399:
21:
1771:
1756:
1459:
1344:
1141:
685:
519:, a common law doctrine followed in many jurisdictions, provides a
355:
135:
1661:
1609:
1589:
1537:
1349:
1267:
1083:
1045:
993:
1761:
1614:
1359:
1250:
1245:
1191:
862:
515:
of various kinds can provide an absolute defence. For example,
271:
1702:
1646:
1552:
1393:
1196:
695:
509:
was impossible, or where the use of force was not excessive).
478:
256:
1584:
1532:
1388:
786:
702:
1872:
656:
625:
554:to understand the wrongfulness of the action, or a
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1917:
1900:
641:
558:that affected the intention of the litigant.
424:
180:
1907:
1893:
648:
634:
531:defences which are not customarily called
431:
417:
187:
173:
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
1793:History of the American legal profession
505:under certain circumstances (e.g. where
601:
574:
1918:
629:
1859:
44:adding citations to reliable sources
15:
13:
14:
1947:
777:Restitution and unjust enrichment
568:
1863:
1824:
1823:
1809:
602:Carlson, Anyangwe (2015-09-23).
575:Carlson, Anyangwe (2015-09-23).
398:
20:
1788:History of the legal profession
31:needs additional citations for
605:Criminal Law: The General Part
595:
578:Criminal Law: The General Part
455:. The concept of an absolute
1:
608:. Langaa RPCIG. p. 290.
581:. Langaa RPCIG. p. 247.
561:
546:must be distinguished from a
1879:. You can help Knowledge by
7:
10:
1952:
1858:
1455:International legal theory
934:International slavery laws
929:International human rights
924:International criminal law
232:Mental disorder (Insanity)
1803:
1780:
1670:
1508:Administration of justice
1493:
1402:
1293:
1172:
1074:
795:
663:
237:Diminished responsibility
1285:Basic structure doctrine
1135:Natural and legal rights
1016:Public international law
1936:Legal terminology stubs
1465:Principle of typicality
939:International trade law
655:
1460:Principle of legality
1219:Delegated legislation
919:Intellectual property
503:Right of self-defence
481:statement (in modern
1678:Barristers' chambers
1620:Legal representation
1558:Justice of the peace
904:Financial regulation
40:improve this article
1713:Election commission
1425:Expressive function
954:Landlord–tenant law
853:Consumer protection
552:diminished capacity
1671:Legal institutions
1538:Lawsuit/Litigation
1528:Dispute resolution
1333:Catholic canon law
1041:State of emergency
1004:Will and testament
728:Law of obligations
681:Constitutional law
671:Administrative law
517:sovereign immunity
151:Trusts and estates
55:"Absolute defence"
1888:
1887:
1853:
1852:
1513:Constitutionalism
1435:Law and economics
1273:Act of parliament
1011:Product liability
964:Legal archaeology
889:Environmental law
883:Entertainment law
723:International law
615:978-9956-762-78-1
588:978-9956-762-78-1
487:England and Wales
468:absolute defences
441:
440:
203:Criminal defenses
197:
196:
116:
115:
108:
90:
1943:
1909:
1902:
1895:
1867:
1860:
1828:
1827:
1826:
1814:
1813:
1637:Question of fact
1518:Criminal justice
848:Construction law
843:Conflict of laws
808:Agricultural law
650:
643:
636:
627:
626:
620:
619:
599:
593:
592:
572:
544:complete defence
540:absolute defence
477:of an allegedly
445:absolute defence
433:
426:
419:
403:
402:
317:
297:False confession
222:Actual innocence
199:
198:
189:
182:
175:
118:
117:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1951:
1950:
1946:
1945:
1944:
1942:
1941:
1940:
1916:
1915:
1914:
1913:
1856:
1854:
1849:
1822:
1808:
1799:
1776:
1767:Political party
1740:Legal education
1728:Law enforcement
1708:Court of equity
1666:
1642:Question of law
1595:Practice of law
1575:Judicial review
1489:
1440:Legal formalism
1420:Comparative law
1415:Contract theory
1398:
1318:Legal pluralism
1289:
1278:Act of Congress
1202:Executive order
1168:
1070:
989:Nationality law
914:Immigration law
838:Competition law
791:
659:
654:
624:
623:
616:
600:
596:
589:
573:
569:
564:
556:mistake of fact
548:partial defence
437:
397:
385:
313:
306:
193:
112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1949:
1939:
1938:
1933:
1931:Legal defenses
1928:
1912:
1911:
1904:
1897:
1889:
1886:
1885:
1868:
1851:
1850:
1848:
1847:
1840:
1833:
1819:
1816:Law portal
1804:
1801:
1800:
1798:
1797:
1796:
1795:
1784:
1782:
1778:
1777:
1775:
1774:
1769:
1764:
1759:
1754:
1749:
1748:
1747:
1737:
1736:
1735:
1725:
1720:
1715:
1710:
1705:
1700:
1695:
1690:
1685:
1680:
1674:
1672:
1668:
1667:
1665:
1664:
1659:
1654:
1652:Trial advocacy
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1633:
1632:
1627:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1577:
1572:
1567:
1566:
1565:
1560:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1499:
1497:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1406:
1404:
1400:
1399:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1386:
1381:
1376:
1375:
1374:
1364:
1363:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1336:
1335:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1299:
1297:
1291:
1290:
1288:
1287:
1282:
1281:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1260:
1259:
1258:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1232:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1211:
1210:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1189:
1184:
1182:Ballot measure
1178:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1167:
1166:
1161:
1159:Legal treatise
1156:
1155:
1154:
1149:
1139:
1138:
1137:
1127:
1125:Letters patent
1122:
1117:
1116:
1115:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1086:
1080:
1078:
1076:Sources of law
1072:
1071:
1069:
1068:
1063:
1061:Unenforced law
1058:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1007:
1006:
1001:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
931:
926:
921:
916:
911:
906:
901:
896:
891:
886:
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
833:Commercial law
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
799:
797:
793:
792:
790:
789:
784:
779:
774:
773:
772:
762:
757:
752:
751:
750:
745:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
699:
698:
688:
683:
678:
673:
667:
665:
661:
660:
653:
652:
645:
638:
630:
622:
621:
614:
594:
587:
566:
565:
563:
560:
525:
524:
510:
490:
489:and Australia.
439:
438:
436:
435:
428:
421:
413:
410:
409:
408:
407:
405:Law portal
392:
391:
387:
386:
384:
383:
378:
373:
368:
363:
358:
353:
348:
342:
339:
338:
330:
329:
328:
327:
318:
308:
307:
305:
304:
299:
294:
289:
284:
279:
274:
269:
264:
259:
254:
249:
244:
239:
234:
229:
224:
218:
215:
214:
206:
205:
195:
194:
192:
191:
184:
177:
169:
166:
165:
164:
163:
158:
153:
148:
143:
138:
133:
125:
124:
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1948:
1937:
1934:
1932:
1929:
1927:
1924:
1923:
1921:
1910:
1905:
1903:
1898:
1896:
1891:
1890:
1884:
1882:
1878:
1875:article is a
1874:
1869:
1866:
1862:
1861:
1857:
1846:
1845:
1841:
1839:
1838:
1834:
1832:
1831:
1820:
1818:
1817:
1812:
1806:
1805:
1802:
1794:
1791:
1790:
1789:
1786:
1785:
1783:
1779:
1773:
1770:
1768:
1765:
1763:
1760:
1758:
1755:
1753:
1750:
1746:
1743:
1742:
1741:
1738:
1734:
1731:
1730:
1729:
1726:
1724:
1721:
1719:
1716:
1714:
1711:
1709:
1706:
1704:
1701:
1699:
1698:Civil society
1696:
1694:
1691:
1689:
1686:
1684:
1681:
1679:
1676:
1675:
1673:
1669:
1663:
1660:
1658:
1657:Trier of fact
1655:
1653:
1650:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1597:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1583:
1581:
1578:
1576:
1573:
1571:
1568:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1555:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1543:Legal opinion
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1523:Court-martial
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1500:
1498:
1496:
1495:Jurisprudence
1492:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1431:
1428:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1416:
1413:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1385:
1384:Statutory law
1382:
1380:
1379:Socialist law
1377:
1373:
1372:Byzantine law
1370:
1369:
1368:
1365:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1334:
1331:
1330:
1329:
1326:
1325:
1324:
1323:Religious law
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1298:
1296:
1295:Legal systems
1292:
1286:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1265:
1264:
1263:Statutory law
1261:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1216:
1215:
1212:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1194:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1175:
1171:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1143:
1140:
1136:
1133:
1132:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1114:
1111:
1110:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1093:Statutory law
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1077:
1073:
1067:
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1051:Transport law
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
996:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
969:Legal fiction
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
930:
927:
925:
922:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
899:Financial law
897:
895:
892:
890:
887:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
858:Corporate law
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
798:
794:
788:
785:
783:
782:Statutory law
780:
778:
775:
771:
768:
767:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
749:
746:
744:
741:
740:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
697:
694:
693:
692:
689:
687:
684:
682:
679:
677:
674:
672:
669:
668:
666:
664:Core subjects
662:
658:
651:
646:
644:
639:
637:
632:
631:
628:
617:
611:
607:
606:
598:
590:
584:
580:
579:
571:
567:
559:
557:
553:
549:
545:
541:
536:
534:
530:
522:
518:
514:
511:
508:
504:
500:
496:
495:
491:
488:
484:
480:
476:
473:
472:
471:
469:
464:
461:
458:
454:
450:
446:
434:
429:
427:
422:
420:
415:
414:
412:
411:
406:
401:
396:
395:
394:
393:
389:
388:
382:
379:
377:
374:
372:
369:
367:
364:
362:
359:
357:
354:
352:
349:
347:
344:
343:
341:
340:
336:
332:
331:
326:
322:
319:
316:
312:
311:
310:
309:
303:
300:
298:
295:
293:
290:
288:
285:
283:
280:
278:
275:
273:
270:
268:
265:
263:
260:
258:
255:
253:
250:
248:
245:
243:
240:
238:
235:
233:
230:
228:
225:
223:
220:
219:
217:
216:
212:
208:
207:
204:
201:
200:
190:
185:
183:
178:
176:
171:
170:
168:
167:
162:
159:
157:
154:
152:
149:
147:
144:
142:
139:
137:
134:
132:
129:
128:
127:
126:
123:
120:
119:
110:
107:
99:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1881:expanding it
1870:
1855:
1842:
1835:
1821:
1807:
1580:Jurisdiction
1548:Legal remedy
1503:Adjudication
1403:Legal theory
1241:Ratification
1236:Promulgation
1207:Proclamation
1187:Codification
1120:Human rights
1108:Divine right
1098:Constitution
1066:Women in law
984:Military law
979:Marriage law
974:Maritime law
873:Election law
813:Aviation law
803:Abortion law
755:Property law
691:Criminal law
604:
597:
577:
570:
543:
539:
537:
532:
528:
526:
512:
494:Self-defence
492:
474:
467:
466:Examples of
465:
462:
448:
444:
442:
321:Criminal law
314:
292:Self-defense
242:Intoxication
209:Part of the
156:Criminal law
141:Property law
131:Contract law
102:
96:January 2024
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1752:Legislature
1683:Bureaucracy
1480:Rule of man
1475:Rule of law
1450:Libertarian
1313:Chinese law
1214:Legislation
1164:Regulations
1152:Law reports
1130:Natural law
1026:Reparations
1021:Refugee law
944:Jurimetrics
885:(Media law)
823:Banking law
818:Amnesty law
796:Disciplines
733:Private law
443:In law, an
287:Provocation
1926:Common law
1920:Categories
1873:legal term
1745:Law school
1625:Prosecutor
1563:Magistrate
1350:Jewish law
1308:Common law
1229:Rulemaking
1224:Regulation
1174:Law making
1113:Divine law
1089:Legal code
1036:Sports law
959:Law of war
909:Health law
894:Family law
878:Energy law
828:Bankruptcy
765:Punishment
760:Public law
562:References
483:defamation
335:common law
302:Entrapment
252:Automatism
211:common law
122:Common law
66:newspapers
1723:Judiciary
1718:Executive
1693:The bench
1630:Solicitor
1605:Barrister
1485:Sociology
1470:Pseudolaw
1410:Anarchist
1367:Roman law
1355:Parsi law
1340:Hindu law
1328:Canon law
1303:Civil law
1256:Concordat
1147:Precedent
1056:Trust law
1031:Space law
868:Drugs law
738:Procedure
676:Civil law
470:include:
453:defendant
325:procedure
282:Necessity
1830:Category
1772:Tribunal
1757:Military
1600:Attorney
1570:Judgment
1430:Feminist
1345:Jain law
1142:Case law
863:Cyberlaw
770:Corporal
748:Criminal
718:Evidence
708:Doctrine
686:Contract
538:Both an
533:absolute
529:complete
513:Immunity
479:libelous
381:Evidence
361:Property
351:Contract
346:Criminal
315:See also
227:Immunity
161:Evidence
136:Tort law
1844:Outline
1781:History
1688:The bar
1662:Verdict
1610:Counsel
1590:Justice
1445:History
1268:Statute
1084:Charter
1046:Tax law
994:Probate
507:retreat
499:battery
457:defence
449:defense
390:Portals
376:Estates
267:Mistake
262:Consent
247:Infancy
80:scholar
1762:Police
1733:Agency
1615:Lawyer
1360:Sharia
1251:Treaty
1246:Repeal
1192:Decree
1103:Custom
999:Estate
949:Labour
713:Equity
612:
585:
542:and a
371:Trusts
333:Other
272:Duress
213:series
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
1871:This
1837:Index
1703:Court
1647:Trial
1553:Judge
1394:Yassa
1197:Edict
743:Civil
696:Crime
521:state
497:in a
475:Truth
366:wills
337:areas
257:Alibi
146:Wills
87:JSTOR
73:books
1877:stub
1585:Jury
1533:Fiqh
1389:Xeer
787:Tort
703:Deed
610:ISBN
583:ISBN
447:(or
356:Tort
323:and
59:news
657:Law
277:Age
42:by
1922::
1091:/
1908:e
1901:t
1894:v
1883:.
649:e
642:t
635:v
618:.
591:.
432:e
425:t
418:v
188:e
181:t
174:v
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.