Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-601 (2026)
Justification a defense
✓ current as of May 2026
It is a defense to prosecution that the conduct of the person is justified under this part.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29
cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: State v. Sims, 45 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2001).
State v. Sims, 45 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2001). “" Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-601 (emphasis added).”
State v. Belser, 945 S.W.2d 776 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-611. The plain language of the statute is that self-defense may be utilized in defense of the prosecution; it is not, however, any justification for a victim’s conduct.”
State of Tennessee v. Ronnie Brewer (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “T.C.A. § 39-11-601 (2014). Furthermore, a defendant may assert a protection of property -10- defense, which states, “A person in lawful possession of real or personal property is justified in threatening or using force against another, when and to the degree it is reasonably…”
State of Tennessee v. Shaun Michael Vincent (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “T.C.A. § 39-11-601 (“It is a defense to prosecution that the conduct of the person is justified under this part.”
State of Tennessee v. Torijon Coplin (Tenn. Crim. App. 2021). “3d at 128 ); see T.C.A. §§ 39-11-601, -611(b)(2) (establishing the statutory requirements for self-defense, -7- including a reasonable belief of imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury).”
State of Tennessee v. Deirdre Marie Rich (Tenn. Crim. App. 2023). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-611 (b)(1)-(2) (2022).”
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Mack Arnold (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-611 (b)(1)-(2) (2022).”
State of Tennessee v. Kelley Irene Engel Gambill (Tenn. Crim. App. 2026). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-601 . Within the same part of the Code, the specific defense of “necessity” provides a definition of justification.”
State of Tennessee v. Alexis Mason & Terrence Harris (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, if: (A) The person has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent danger of death or serious…”
State of Tennessee v. Brian Le Hurst (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-11-601(b)(1) provides that: [A] person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force against another person when and to the degree the…”
State of Tennessee v. Ashunti Elmore (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “Section 39-11-601(b)(1) provides that: [A] person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force against another person when and to the degree the person reasonably believes…”
State of Tennessee v. Frederick Greene (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “no duty to retreat before threatening or using force intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if: (A) The person has a reasonable belief that there is an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury; (B) The danger creating the belief of imminent death or…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-601(b)(1) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Brian Le Hurst (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-11-601(b)(1) provides that: [A] person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force against another person when and to the degree the…”
State of Tennessee v. Ashunti Elmore (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012). “Section 39-11-601(b)(1) provides that: [A] person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is in a place where the person has a right to be has no duty to retreat before threatening or using force against another person when and to the degree the person reasonably believes…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-601(d) — 1 case
State v. Guy William Rush (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
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