Twinkie defense

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-005016",
  "term": "Twinkie defense",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "An informal name for a legal defense strategy that seeks to attribute a defendant's actions to an external factor, such as a medical condition or diet, to argue for diminished capacity or insanity. The term arose from the 1979 murder trial of Dan White, where the defense argued his mental state was impaired, citing his consumption of sugary junk food as a symptom of depression. This type of defense claims the defendant was not fully responsible for their criminal conduct.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/twinkie-defense/"
}