Duress

Duress or coercion (as a term of jurisprudence) is a possible legal defense, via excuse, by which a defendant may argue that they should not be held criminally liable for actions that broke the law. Black's Law Dictionary (6th ed.) defines duress as "any unlawful threat or coercion used... to induce another to act in a manner otherwise would not ." The notion of duress must be distinguished from undue influence.

Related Topics:
Jurisprudence - Legal defense - Excuse - Defendant - Criminally - Liable - Law - Black's Law Dictionary - Threat - Coercion - Undue influence

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A possible example of duress would involve robbing a bank in order to pay a ransom. Courts generally do not accept a defense of duress when harm done by the defendant, such as murder, was greater than the court's perception of the coercive influence. In the United States, duress can never be a defense to murder, no matter the coercion employed.

Related Topics:
Robbing a bank - Court - Murder - United States

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A contract entered under duress is voidable.

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