sherman– sorrells doctrine
Sherman–Sorrells doctrine. The principle that a defendant may claim as an affirmative defense that he or she was not disposed to commit the offense until a public official (often an undercover police officer) encouraged the defendant to do so. • This entrapment defense, which is recognized in the federal system and a majority of states, was developed in Sherman v. United States, 356 U.S. 369, 78 S.Ct. 819 (1958), and Sorrells v. United States, 287 U.S. 435, 53 S.Ct. 210 (1932). — Also termed subjective method. See ENTRAPMENT. Cf. HYPOTHETICAL-PERSON DEFENSE.
