Demystifying the abuse excuse: Is there one?

Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy

Volumn 19, Issue 3, 1996, Pages

  Arenella, Peter ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0346478611     PISSN: 01934872     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (6)

1. Stephen J. Morse, The New Syndrome Excuse Syndrome 14 CRIM. JUST. ETHICS, Winter/Spring, 1995, at 3, 4.
2. See Alan M. Dershowitz, The Abuse Excuse, S.F. EXAMINER, Jan. 16, 1994, at A15. In one of the first syndicated op-ed pieces in which he coined the phrase "abuse excuse," Professor Dershowitz wrote: Two clear messages have been sent. The first to victims of abuse: The legal system may excuse you if you take the law into your own hands instead of either leaving or reporting the abuse. This unfortunate message has been underlined by the outpourings of public support for abuse victims who kill or maim. The second message is directed to criminal defense lawyers: When neither the law nor the facts are on your client's side, argue abuse. It may get you an acquittal, a reduced charge or a hung jury. The popularity of the "abuse excuse" poses real dangers to our safety and to the integrity of our legal system. It is far too easy for a desperate criminal to concoct a false history of abuse, for a disturbed criminal to imagine such a history or for a sleazy lawyer to manufacture such a defense. Id. Professor Dershowitz's subsequent book, see ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ, THE ABUSE EXCUSE AND OTHER COP-OUTS, SOB STORIES AND EVASIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY (1994), about the abuse excuse received widespread media attention in part because it reinforced the public's perception that claims of victimization were being used by people in all walks of life to deny responsibility for their actions. See, e.g., Tom Egerman, Legal Expert Doesn't Buy Defensive 'Abuse Excuse,' STAR-TRIB. (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Dec. 4, 1994, at 14F; Carolyn See, An Angry Dershowitz Rails Against Our Nation of Wimps, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 25, 1994, at 78A; Richard E. Vatz & Lee S. Weinberg, Making Excuses: Legal Media Hound's Latest Effort is a Poor Excuse for a Book on the Issue of Dodging Criminal Responsibility, SUN-SENTINEL (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Dec. 25, 1995, at 10D.
3. See Alan M. Dershowitz, The Abuse Excuse, S.F. EXAMINER, Jan. 16, 1994, at A15. In one of the first syndicated op-ed pieces in which he coined the phrase "abuse excuse," Professor Dershowitz wrote: Two clear messages have been sent. The first to victims of abuse: The legal system may excuse you if you take the law into your own hands instead of either leaving or reporting the abuse. This unfortunate message has been underlined by the outpourings of public support for abuse victims who kill or maim. The second message is directed to criminal defense lawyers: When neither the law nor the facts are on your client's side, argue abuse. It may get you an acquittal, a reduced charge or a hung jury. The popularity of the "abuse excuse" poses real dangers to our safety and to the integrity of our legal system. It is far too easy for a desperate criminal to concoct a false history of abuse, for a disturbed criminal to imagine such a history or for a sleazy lawyer to manufacture such a defense. Id. Professor Dershowitz's subsequent book, see ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ, THE ABUSE EXCUSE AND OTHER COP-OUTS, SOB STORIES AND EVASIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY (1994), about the abuse excuse received widespread media attention in part because it reinforced the public's perception that claims of victimization were being used by people in all walks of life to deny responsibility for their actions. See, e.g., Tom Egerman, Legal Expert Doesn't Buy Defensive 'Abuse Excuse,' STAR-TRIB. (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Dec. 4, 1994, at 14F; Carolyn See, An Angry Dershowitz Rails Against Our Nation of Wimps, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 25, 1994, at 78A; Richard E. Vatz & Lee S. Weinberg, Making Excuses: Legal Media Hound's Latest Effort is a Poor Excuse for a Book on the Issue of Dodging Criminal Responsibility, SUN-SENTINEL (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Dec. 25, 1995, at 10D.
4. See Alan M. Dershowitz, The Abuse Excuse, S.F. EXAMINER, Jan. 16, 1994, at A15. In one of the first syndicated op-ed pieces in which he coined the phrase "abuse excuse," Professor Dershowitz wrote: Two clear messages have been sent. The first to victims of abuse: The legal system may excuse you if you take the law into your own hands instead of either leaving or reporting the abuse. This unfortunate message has been underlined by the outpourings of public support for abuse victims who kill or maim. The second message is directed to criminal defense lawyers: When neither the law nor the facts are on your client's side, argue abuse. It may get you an acquittal, a reduced charge or a hung jury. The popularity of the "abuse excuse" poses real dangers to our safety and to the integrity of our legal system. It is far too easy for a desperate criminal to concoct a false history of abuse, for a disturbed criminal to imagine such a history or for a sleazy lawyer to manufacture such a defense. Id. Professor Dershowitz's subsequent book, see ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ, THE ABUSE EXCUSE AND OTHER COP-OUTS, SOB STORIES AND EVASIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY (1994), about the abuse excuse received widespread media attention in part because it reinforced the public's perception that claims of victimization were being used by people in all walks of life to deny responsibility for their actions. See, e.g., Tom Egerman, Legal Expert Doesn't Buy Defensive 'Abuse Excuse,' STAR-TRIB. (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Dec. 4, 1994, at 14F; Carolyn See, An Angry Dershowitz Rails Against Our Nation of Wimps, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 25, 1994, at 78A; Richard E. Vatz & Lee S. Weinberg, Making Excuses: Legal Media Hound's Latest Effort is a Poor Excuse for a Book on the Issue of Dodging Criminal Responsibility, SUN-SENTINEL (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Dec. 25, 1995, at 10D.
5. See Alan M. Dershowitz, The Abuse Excuse, S.F. EXAMINER, Jan. 16, 1994, at A15. In one of the first syndicated op-ed pieces in which he coined the phrase "abuse excuse," Professor Dershowitz wrote: Two clear messages have been sent. The first to victims of abuse: The legal system may excuse you if you take the law into your own hands instead of either leaving or reporting the abuse. This unfortunate message has been underlined by the outpourings of public support for abuse victims who kill or maim. The second message is directed to criminal defense lawyers: When neither the law nor the facts are on your client's side, argue abuse. It may get you an acquittal, a reduced charge or a hung jury. The popularity of the "abuse excuse" poses real dangers to our safety and to the integrity of our legal system. It is far too easy for a desperate criminal to concoct a false history of abuse, for a disturbed criminal to imagine such a history or for a sleazy lawyer to manufacture such a defense. Id. Professor Dershowitz's subsequent book, see ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ, THE ABUSE EXCUSE AND OTHER COP-OUTS, SOB STORIES AND EVASIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY (1994), about the abuse excuse received widespread media attention in part because it reinforced the public's perception that claims of victimization were being used by people in all walks of life to deny responsibility for their actions. See, e.g., Tom Egerman, Legal Expert Doesn't Buy Defensive 'Abuse Excuse,' STAR-TRIB. (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Dec. 4, 1994, at 14F; Carolyn See, An Angry Dershowitz Rails Against Our Nation of Wimps, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 25, 1994, at 78A; Richard E. Vatz & Lee S. Weinberg, Making Excuses: Legal Media Hound's Latest Effort is a Poor Excuse for a Book on the Issue of Dodging Criminal Responsibility, SUN-SENTINEL (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Dec. 25, 1995, at 10D.
6. See Alan M. Dershowitz, The Abuse Excuse, S.F. EXAMINER, Jan. 16, 1994, at A15. In one of the first syndicated op-ed pieces in which he coined the phrase "abuse excuse," Professor Dershowitz wrote: Two clear messages have been sent. The first to victims of abuse: The legal system may excuse you if you take the law into your own hands instead of either leaving or reporting the abuse. This unfortunate message has been underlined by the outpourings of public support for abuse victims who kill or maim. The second message is directed to criminal defense lawyers: When neither the law nor the facts are on your client's side, argue abuse. It may get you an acquittal, a reduced charge or a hung jury. The popularity of the "abuse excuse" poses real dangers to our safety and to the integrity of our legal system. It is far too easy for a desperate criminal to concoct a false history of abuse, for a disturbed criminal to imagine such a history or for a sleazy lawyer to manufacture such a defense. Id. Professor Dershowitz's subsequent book, see ALAN M. DERSHOWITZ, THE ABUSE EXCUSE AND OTHER COP-OUTS, SOB STORIES AND EVASIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY (1994), about the abuse excuse received widespread media attention in part because it reinforced the public's perception that claims of victimization were being used by people in all walks of life to deny responsibility for their actions. See, e.g., Tom Egerman, Legal Expert Doesn't Buy Defensive 'Abuse Excuse,' STAR-TRIB. (Minneapolis-St. Paul), Dec. 4, 1994, at 14F; Carolyn See, An Angry Dershowitz Rails Against Our Nation of Wimps, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 25, 1994, at 78A; Richard E. Vatz & Lee S. Weinberg, Making Excuses: Legal Media Hound's Latest Effort is a Poor Excuse for a Book on the Issue of Dodging Criminal Responsibility, SUN-SENTINEL (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Dec. 25, 1995, at 10D.