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Tex. Penal Code § 2.03

This is the official text of Tex. Penal Code § 2.03, part of Texas’s Penal Code — defines crimes and punishments in Texas.

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§ 2.03. DEFENSE.

Official statutory text

(a) A defense to prosecution for an offense in this code is so labeled by the phrase: "It is a defense to prosecution . . . ."

(b) The prosecuting attorney is not required to negate the existence of a defense in the accusation charging commission of the offense.

(c) The issue of the existence of a defense is not submitted to the jury unless evidence is admitted supporting the defense.

(d) If the issue of the existence of a defense is submitted to the jury, the court shall charge that a reasonable doubt on the issue requires that the defendant be acquitted.

(e) A ground of defense in a penal law that is not plainly labeled in accordance with this chapter has the procedural and evidentiary consequences of a defense.

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

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