impossibility

law

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June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Impossibility refers to the state of being impossible, meaning something cannot happen or be known. It can also describe something that is impossible to achieve or is extremely undesirable. In criminal law, a defense of "impossibility" is recognized when an act is attempted but fails because the circumstances were not as the actor believed them to be, though this defense is only valid if the mistake was unreasonable.123

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criminal law
Attempt
A defense of “impossibility” is recognized only if the mistake is shown to be absolutely unreasonable. Unlike the law of some continental European countries, no defense has traditionally been granted to an offender who voluntarily desists from committing the intended harm after that person’s conduct has reached a…
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A defense of “impossibility” is recognized only if the mistake is shown to be absolutely unreasonable. Unlike the law of some continental European countries, no defense has traditionally been granted to an offender who voluntarily desists from committing the intended harm after that person’s conduct has reached a…
Read More