Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Personal defense is a type of defense used by a defendant in a legal case. It is a reason given by the defendant as to why the plaintiff or prosecutor does not have a valid case against them. There are different types of personal defenses, including:
For example, if a person is accused of assault, they may use self-defense as a personal defense. They would argue that they acted in self-defense and therefore should not be held liable for the assault. This is an affirmative defense because they are asserting facts and arguments that, if true, will defeat the prosecution's claim.