In [[law]], the introduction of a special circumstance intended to extenuate a [[crime]] or a [[tort]], instead of denying that the crime or tort occurred or that the defendant did the deed, is often called a special pleading.<ref name=Heritage/> [[Self-defense]] is the classic special plea in law. But this would not normally qualify as a special pleading in logic. Under the laws of most nation-states today, self-defense ''is'' directly relevant to a judgment of guilt for certain crimes, especially [[murder]]. | In [[law]], the introduction of a special circumstance intended to extenuate a [[crime]] or a [[tort]], instead of denying that the crime or tort occurred or that the defendant did the deed, is often called a special pleading.<ref name=Heritage/> [[Self-defense]] is the classic special plea in law. But this would not normally qualify as a special pleading in logic. Under the laws of most nation-states today, self-defense ''is'' directly relevant to a judgment of guilt for certain crimes, especially [[murder]]. |