Dictionary definition of “SODDI defense”

SODDI defense

n. blame placed on an unknown party (in a court of law); Also TODDI defense, blame placed on a known party (in a court of law). Subjects: English, Law, Acronym

Etymological Note: Acronyms of some other dude did it and the other dude did it.

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Citations: 1977 Richard Ben-Veniste, George Frampton Jr. Chicago Tribune (May 8) “Watching Nixon unravel his story” p. 2-2: The subtle setting up of Haldeman and Ehrlichman as the chief White House culprits [in criminal courts, this is called the toddi defense—“the other guy did it.”]. 1985 Myron Levin Los Angeles Times (Nov. 16) “Case of Spa Maker Charged With Fouling School Air Ends in Mistrial” p. 6: The spa plant, Pritsker said, had relied on a classic “SODDI” defense—that “some other dude did it.” 1991 Peter V. MacDonald Toronto Star (Can.) (Dec. 22) “Defence benefits from creative thinking” p. D4: “So you’re using the old Soddi defence, are you?” the Crown Attorney asked the accused on cross-examination. “I’m not familiar with that term,” said the prisoner at the bar. “Is that “Saudi,” as in “Saudi Arabia?’” “No,” interjected the judge, “it’s S-O- D-D-I—as in “Some Other Dude Done It!” 1994 Steven Paul Martini Prime Witness (Feb.) p. 276: The classic SODDI defense (Some Other Dude Did It) is always persuasive with a jury when you can put a face to a deed. 2003 [Michael Pelletier] @ N.H. Free Republic (Jan. 31) “I watch my son die every time I see the twin towers on TV”: If you’re a defense attorney, you’re usually going to use the SODDI or TODDI defense—“Some Other Dude Did It” or “That Other Dude Did It.” 2005 Kristin W. Davis Kiplinger’s (Washington, D.C.) (Oct.) “But, Officer, That Isn’t Me”: Another hurdle is a deep skepticism within the criminal justice system toward people who insist they are clean. “The paperwork is sometimes called a Toddi, for “the other dude did it,”” says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, in San Diego, which provides guidance to identity-theft victims. The phrase captures the “culture of mistrust around efforts to clear a criminal record.”

Posted 2 Nov 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend