Connection lost
Server error
State v. Stewart Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A woman suffering from battered woman syndrome killed her abusive husband while he slept. The court held that a self-defense instruction was improper because there was no imminent threat of harm from a sleeping victim, a core requirement for the justification defense.
Legal Significance: This case establishes that evidence of battered woman syndrome, while relevant to the defendant’s state of mind, cannot by itself satisfy the imminence requirement for self-defense. A defendant must still demonstrate a reasonable fear of an imminent, overt threat, which is absent when the aggressor is asleep.
State v. Stewart Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Peggy Stewart was charged with first-degree murder for fatally shooting her husband, Mike Stewart, while he was sleeping. At trial, Stewart presented extensive evidence of a long history of severe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse inflicted upon her and her daughters by her husband. This abuse included beatings, death threats with firearms, and extreme isolation. Shortly before the killing, Stewart had fled to a hospital in Oklahoma, but her husband brought her back, threatening to kill her if she ever left again. On the day of the shooting, he made veiled threats and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse. That night, Stewart testified she heard voices saying “kill or be killed.” She retrieved a handgun she had previously hidden and shot her husband as he slept. A defense expert testified that Stewart suffered from battered woman syndrome, which placed her in a “lethal situation.” The trial court instructed the jury on self-defense, and the jury acquitted Stewart. The State appealed on a question reserved, challenging the propriety of the self-defense instruction.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does the justification of self-defense apply to a homicide committed by a victim of battered woman syndrome when the victim kills her abuser while he is asleep and poses no immediate, overt threat?
No. The court sustained the State’s appeal, holding that the trial court Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem i
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does the justification of self-defense apply to a homicide committed by a victim of battered woman syndrome when the victim kills her abuser while he is asleep and poses no immediate, overt threat?
Conclusion
The case solidifies the imminence requirement as a strict, objective element of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
Legal Rule
Under K.S.A. 21-3211, the use of deadly force in self-defense is justified Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in
Legal Analysis
The Supreme Court of Kansas reasoned that the statutory defense of self-defense, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectet
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A self-defense instruction is improper when a battered woman kills her
