Legal Definitions - meritorious defense

Meritorious defense is a legal term that refers to a defendant's stated reason why the plaintiff or prosecutor has no valid case. It is a defense that addresses the substance or essentials of a case rather than dilatory or technical objections. A meritorious defense appears likely to succeed or has already succeeded.

For example, if a person is accused of robbery, their meritorious defense could be that they were 25 miles away from the building at the time of the robbery. This defense addresses the substance of the case and could potentially lead to the defendant being acquitted.

Another example of a meritorious defense is the insanity defense. If a person is accused of murder, their defense could be that they were not in their right mind at the time of the crime and therefore cannot be held responsible for their actions. This defense addresses the substance of the case and could potentially lead to a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

In summary, a meritorious defense is a defense that addresses the substance of a case and has the potential to succeed in court.