California Stand Your Ground Law
Recognized by Court Decision
California permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute.
What “Recognized by Court Decision” means
Deadly force in self-defense is permitted through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute.
7 of 50 states are in the same category
Alongside California: Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures · as of September 2026 · last verified September 24, 2026
See every state in our stand-your-ground tracker, or everything we track for California.
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