Imagine you were involved in a bar fight or a road rage incident that became physical, and you were arrested and charged with assault. You protest to the police and argue that you were simply defending yourself, but the prosecutor decides to proceed with a case against you anyhow. You may be wondering how you can claim self-defense to the court.
Self-defense is what is known as an “affirmative defense.” This means that you, as the defendant, do not dispute the facts alleged by the prosecution (e.g., that you hit the other party), but rather claim that there are additional facts that, if true, justify your use of force.