Recent content by Andrew Branca

Thank Google Alerts! :-) --Andrew, @LawSelfDefense

Hey folks, this is Andrew Branca, the author of the aforementioned, "The Law of Self Defense, 3rd Edition." I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone might have about the book. I'd encourage you to ask them quickly, however, as it's been my experience that "evil book writers" have a short...

"Curtilage includes outbuildings, the yard around a dwelling, a garden of the dwelling, or the parking lot of a business." State v. Wiggins, 330 S.C. 538 (SC Supreme Court 1998). [As cited favorably in the famous State v. Dickey, 394 S.C. 491 (SC Supreme Court 2011).] --Andrew, @LawSelfDefense

The purpose of the Castle Doctrine is to provide an exemption to an otherwise existing duty to retreat (e.g., normally you would have been required to retreat under the circumstances before resorting to the use of force in self-defense, but because you were in your "castle" that duty will be...

Kind of you to say so. :-) --Andrew, @LawSelfDefense

I'd be happy to come to Greenville, if anyone there wants to host a seminar (meaning, really, just provide the space, maybe an LCD projector). If you, or someone you know, might be interested in hosting a seminar, there's logistics information on the "seminar" page of my blog. Alternatively...

A father in South Carolina who fired his handgun in self-defense?and in the process killing an apparent innocent bystander?has successfully argued that he is not subject to criminal or civil liability under the state?s self-defense immunity law. South Carolina?s self-defense immunity...

Warning shots are treacherous legal terrain, for certain. Here's my legal analysis of the myth that Marissa Alexander fired a "mere warning shot". (In a word, it's BS.) The Myth of Marissa Alexander?s ?Warning Shot? (http://lawofselfdefense.com/the-myth-of-marissa-alexanders-warning-shot/)...

Yeah, it was definitely NOT a Stand Your Ground case: The Marissa Alexander Case Wasn?t About ?Stand-Your-Ground? Either (http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/07/the-marissa-alexander-case-wasnt-about-stand-your-ground-either/) --Andrew, @LawSelfDefense

In more self-defense law fun from the Sunshine State, yesterday a Florida appellate court ruled that Marissa Alexander is entitled to a new trial on the aggravated assault charges that garnered her a 20-year sentence. You may recall that the charges against Ms. Alexander arose when she got into...

Zimmerman Trial Update & NRA Discount Coupon Hey folks, My apologies for my posts here becoming a bit more sporadic, but it's a busy time on the home front, and I sometimes just can't find time each evening to drop in and leave an update. For those still interested, however, my wrap-up of day...

Zimmerman Trial Day 8: Live Video, Analysis & Reader Poll: D Hey folks, Just wrapped up Day 8 of Florida v. Zimmerman, and things went no better for the prosecution today than in prior days?indeed, the morning was pretty much a disaster for the offense. For details on the morning?s events...

Zimmerman Trial Day 8: Live Video, Analysis of State's Case Hey folks, Today we will again be covering the Zimmerman Trial live, all day, with streaming video. Continuing commentary will be posted in the Twitter feed of selected contributors below the first video feed, and breaking news will...

Zimmerman Trial Day 7 Wrap Up: Prosecution recovers a little Hey folks, We covered the morning?s events with our mid-day update, available here at the link below. It included the completion of cross-examination of Chris Serino, who was more ambivalent today than yesterday, and the testimony of...

Zimmerman Trial Day 7: Live Video, Analysis of State's Case Hey folks, Today we will again be covering the Zimmerman Trial live, all day, with streaming video. Continuing commentary will be posted in the Twitter feed of selected contributors below the first video feed, and breaking news will...