N.Y. Penal Law Section 35.05
Justification

  • generally

Mentioned in

Redistributive wars

Philosophia, March 15, 2023

“Can the global poor wage a just redistributive war against the global rich? The moral norms governing the use of force are usually considered to be very strict. Nonetheless, some philosophers have recently argued that violating duties of global justice can be a just cause for war.”
 
Bibliographic info

Unless otherwise limited by the ensuing provisions of this article defining justifiable use of physical force, conduct which would otherwise constitute an offense is justifiable and not criminal when:

1.

Such conduct is required or authorized by law or by a judicial decree, or is performed by a public servant in the reasonable exercise of his official powers, duties or functions; or

2.

Such conduct is necessary as an emergency measure to avoid an imminent public or private injury which is about to occur by reason of a situation occasioned or developed through no fault of the actor, and which is of such gravity that, according to ordinary standards of intelligence and morality, the desirability and urgency of avoiding such injury clearly outweigh the desirability of avoiding the injury sought to be prevented by the statute defining the offense in issue. The necessity and justifiability of such conduct may not rest upon considerations pertaining only to the morality and advisability of the statute, either in its general application or with respect to its application to a particular class of cases arising thereunder. Whenever evidence relating to the defense of justification under this subdivision is offered by the defendant, the court shall rule as a matter of law whether the claimed facts and circumstances would, if established, constitute a defense.

Source: Section 35.05 — Justification; generally, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PEN/35.­05 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 26, 2024).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
Oct. 26, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 35.05’s source at nysenate​.gov

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