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The '''Nuremberg Defense''' is a defense strategy that states that the defendant was "only following orders" and therefore cannot be held responsible or accountable for his crimes or conduct. The defense was most famously employed by [[Nazi]] war criminals during the [[Nuremberg Trials]], from which it has taken its name.  

The '''Nuremberg Defense''' was a [[legal defense|defense]] used during the [[Nuremberg Trials]] by several [[Nazi]] [[war crimes|war criminals]].

 

It essentially argues that the defendant cannot be held responsible for his actions as he was only "following orders". It is generally not accepted as a legitimate defense provided the defendant had a clear [[moral choice]] and an actual ability to refuse to carry out illegal orders, which under a [[totalitarian]] state such as [[Nazi Germany]] would probably just result in the individual being executed for insubordination.

 

[[William Calley]] also used the defense during his [[court-martial]] after the [[My Lai Massacre]].

 

[[Category:Law]]

[[Category:Law]]