Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2026)
Defense of third person
✓ current as of May 2026
A person is justified in threatening or using force against another to protect a third person, if:
- (1) Under the circumstances as the person reasonably believes them to be, the person would be justified under § 39-11-611 in threatening or using force to protect against the use or attempted use of unlawful force reasonably believed to be threatening the third person sought to be protected; and
- (2) The person reasonably believes that the intervention is immediately necessary to protect the third person.
Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 36
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1998–2025 · leading case: State of Tennessee v. Ledarren S. Hawkins, 406 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. 2013).
State of Tennessee v. Ledarren S. Hawkins, 406 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. 2013). “§ 39-11-611 , Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2010) recognizes “defense of another.”
State v. Bult, 989 S.W.2d 730 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). “Pursuant to T.C.A § 39-11-612, a person is justified to act in defense of another when: (1) Under the circumstances as the person reasonably believes them to be, the person would be justified under § 39-11-611 in threatening or using force to protect against the use or attempted…”
State v. Cook, 515 S.E.2d 127 (W. Va. 1999). “1998); Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (1989) (Repl.Vol.”
State of Tennessee v. Shaun Michael Vincent (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “- 18 - T.C.A. § 39-11-612. Section 611 outlines the requirements for the justification of self- defense, which permits the use or threatened use of either force or force intended or likely to cause to cause death or serious bodily injury in certain circumstances.”
Jason Little v. Eastgate of Jackson, LLC d/b/a Eastgate Disc. Beer & Tobacco (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “T.C.A. § 39-11-612 (2003). Eastgate argues that the trial court erred in denying its motion to dismiss.”
State of Tennessee v. Travis Dewayne Melton (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2015). A defendant‟s conduct and mental state must meet an objective standard of reasonableness for the conduct to be justified under these statutory defenses.”
State of Tennessee v. Mario Donte Keene (Tenn. Crim. App. 2018). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2014). A defendant’s conduct and mental state must meet an objective standard of reasonableness for the conduct to be justified under this statutory defense.”
State of Tennessee v. Kevin Waggoner (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “- 19 - 2013) (quoting T.C.A. § 39-11-612 Sentencing Comm’n Cmts.”
Larry Donnell Golden, Jr. v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2020). “2013) (quoting T.C.A. § 39-11-612 Sentencing Comm’n Cmts.”
State of Tennessee v. George Steven Waters (Tenn. Crim. App. 2022). “2013) (quoting T.C.A. § 39-11-612 Sentencing Comm’n Cmts).”
State of Tennessee v. Michael Denver Richardson (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612 . As used in this statute, a person’s reasonable belief means “the defendant’s conduct and mental state must meet an objective standard of reasonableness for the conduct to be justified[.”
State of Tennessee v. Sentorya L. Young (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612 . It is well settled that whether an individual acted in self-defense is a factual determination to be made by the jury as the trier of fact.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612(1) — 5 cases
State of Tennessee v. Ledarren S. Hawkins, 406 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. 2013). “§ 39-11-611 , Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2010) recognizes “defense of another.”
State v. Bult, 989 S.W.2d 730 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). “Pursuant to T.C.A § 39-11-612, a person is justified to act in defense of another when: (1) Under the circumstances as the person reasonably believes them to be, the person would be justified under § 39-11-611 in threatening or using force to protect against the use or attempted…”
State of Tennessee v. Shaun Michael Vincent (Tenn. Crim. App. 2019). “- 18 - T.C.A. § 39-11-612. Section 611 outlines the requirements for the justification of self- defense, which permits the use or threatened use of either force or force intended or likely to cause to cause death or serious bodily injury in certain circumstances.”
State of Tennessee v. Christa G. Pike (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
State of Tennessee v. Devan Shepherd (Tenn. Crim. App. 2025).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612(2) — 2 cases
State of Tennessee v. Ledarren S. Hawkins, 406 S.W.3d 121 (Tenn. 2013). “§ 39-11-611 , Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-11-612 (2010) recognizes “defense of another.”
State of Tennessee v. Christa G. Pike (Tenn. Crim. App. 2006).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-612(b)(2) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. LeDarren S. Hawkins (Tenn. Crim. App. 2012).
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