{"id":793,"date":"2012-05-05T15:34:57","date_gmt":"2012-05-05T19:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.miblaw.com\/lawschool\/?p=793"},"modified":"2012-07-21T10:25:50","modified_gmt":"2012-07-21T14:25:50","slug":"mistake-of-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.miblaw.com\/lawschool\/mistake-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Mistake of Law Defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mistake of Law is not a valid defense to a general intent <\/a>crime. Even if the defendant’s mistake was reasonable, mistake of law is not a valid defense. (See People v. Marrero<\/em><\/a>). The only exception is if a statute proscribing the defendant’s conduct has not been reasonably made available or if the defendant recently relied on a statute or judicial decision that was recently held unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

However, under a specific intent<\/a> crime, the defendant’s mistake of law is a valid defense whether reasonable or unreasonable. (See Cheek v. United States<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n

Compare to Mistake of Fact Defense<\/a><\/p>\n

More Helpful Information: List of General Intent and Specific Intent Crimes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mistake of Law is not a valid defense to a general intent crime. Even if the defendant’s mistake was reasonable, mistake of law is not a valid defense. (See People v. Marrero). The only exception is if a statute proscribing the defendant’s conduct has not been reasonably made available or if the defendant recently relied … <\/p>\n

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