Legal Definitions - moral-wrong doctrine

The moral-wrong doctrine is a legal principle that states that if someone commits a wrongful act based on a mistaken understanding of the facts, they cannot use that mistake as an excuse to avoid responsibility for their actions. This is because even if the facts had been as the person believed them to be, their conduct would still be considered immoral.

For example, imagine a person who believes that their neighbor is stealing from them. Based on this mistaken belief, they break into their neighbor's house and steal some of their belongings. Even if it turns out that the neighbor was actually stealing from them, the person's actions would still be considered immoral and illegal.

Another example could be a person who believes that their spouse is cheating on them. Based on this mistaken belief, they hire a private investigator to follow their spouse and gather evidence. Even if it turns out that the spouse was actually cheating, the person's actions would still be considered immoral and potentially illegal.

These examples illustrate the moral-wrong doctrine because they show that even if someone's mistaken belief about the facts leads them to commit a wrongful act, they cannot use that mistake as an excuse to avoid responsibility for their actions. The law holds people accountable for their conduct based on what is considered moral and ethical, regardless of their beliefs or intentions.