Articles Tagged with Legal Defenses in North Carolina

Voluntary intoxication occupies one of the narrowest spaces in North Carolina criminal law. It is not a general justification for unlawful conduct, nor is it a plea for sympathy.

Instead, voluntary intoxication functions as a limited doctrine that may, under rare circumstances, negate the specific intent required for particular crimes.

The defense reflects a long-standing tension between moral accountability and the requirement that the State prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt.