The Next Fight- Self Defense Immunity & Stand Your Ground Laws

Don West, National Trial Counsel for CCW Safe, continues The Next Fight, talking about two important concepts in self defense cases. Two that are often confused for each other, but are actually quite different. Stand Your Ground is the change in the law that used to require the duty to retreat before deadly force could be used. It expanded the Castle Doctrine to places outside the home, and allowed for deadly force to be used without the duty to retreat. Self Defense Immunity hearings established the right to petition the judge to dismiss the case before trial if it can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that you acted in self defense.

Don West, National Trial Counsel for CCW Safe, continues The Next Fight, talking about two important concepts in self defense cases.  Two that are often confused for each other, but are actually quite different.  Stand Your Ground is the change in the law that used to require the duty to retreat before deadly force could be used.  It expanded the Castle Doctrine to places outside the home, and allowed for deadly force to be used without the duty to retreat.  Self Defense Immunity hearings established the right to petition the judge to dismiss the case before trial if it can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence that you acted in self defense.

Don served as co-counsel in the highly publicized George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case and has extensive experience defending serious felony cases and has successfully tried several self-defense cases involving the use of a firearm in defending against an unlawful attack.  After Mr. Zimmerman’s acquittal, Mr. West continued to represent Mr. Zimmerman in the federal civil rights investigation until in 2015 the Department of Justice announced that no charges would be filed.

He holds the prestigious AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell, a 10.0 rating by Avvo, has been awarded Superlawyer status by Thomson Reuters, Top 100 by National Trial Lawyers, is recognized by Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine, Orlando’s Top Lawyers and has been board certified as a criminal trial specialist by the Florida Bar since 1987.    In addition, he has held director positions with the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Mr. West has presented around the country to legal organizations, law students and legal professionals on various aspects of the Zimmerman trial, including self defense law, forensic evidence in firearm cases and stand your ground issues. He has appeared on all the major media outlets in connection with the Zimmerman case or other high profile cases he’s handled.

Welcome to The Next Fight!