Replies

I thought California had a “He needed killin’” defense left over from SPanish colonialism.

Jury Instructions?

We don' nee' no stinkin' jury instructions.

I think the “he needed killin” defense is left over from Texas and doesn't have anything to do with Spanish colonial stuff.

Myth?

Judge Roy Bean: Did you kill him?

Defendant: Yep I did.

Judge Roy Bean: Why?

Defendant: He was no good and needed killin.

Judge Roy Bean: Not guilty!

All that is a LOL response. Seriously though, there was summery justice in the southwest and general western US for a time. Attributing this to Spanish colonialism is silly IMHO. Life was hard, the law was days if not weeks or months away. Self defense of life, property and rights was in a person's and community's own resources. In some instances, it was akin to living in a war zone.

This is not academic to me. My family's roots stretch back to northern New Mexico Spanish and Virginia English in the 1700s then blends to English, Irish and Dutch in Texas and Oklahoma in the 1800s. Contemporary times? Typical American mutt.

I don't blame anyone for rights or wrongs in the past. If they blame me? Screw ‘em. Folks did what was needed to cope with harsh circumstances.

My opinions…