PTSD Self-Defense Shooting Theory Adopted by Florida Justices

Defendants with post-traumatic stress disorder can use that diagnosis to win over juries in self-defense cases, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Self-defense claims have two parts—an “objective” standard where jurors consider if the defendant took actions a reasonable person would take, and a “subjective” standard where jurors consider if a defendant believed their defensive actions were necessary, Justice Renatha Francis wrote for the unanimous court.

A defendant’s history of trauma can’t factor in to how jurors weigh the “objective” part because a defendant’s subjective perception shouldn’t change community standards for acceptable conduct. However, a defendant may be able to ...