9th Cir. Model Jury Instr. (Criminal) 5.9

The defendant contends that [his] [her] conduct was justified. Justification legally excuses the crime charged.

The defendant must prove justification by a preponderance of the evidence. A preponderance of the evidence means that you must be persuaded that the things the defendant seeks to prove are more probably true than not true. This is a lesser burden of proof than the government’s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt each element of [specify crime charged].

A defendant’s conduct was justified only if at the time of the crime charged:

First, the defendant was under an unlawful and present threat of death or serious bodily injury;

Second, the defendant did not recklessly place [himself] [herself] in a situation where [he] [she] would be forced to engage in criminal conduct;

Third, the defendant had no reasonable legal alternative; and

Fourth, there was a direct causal relationship between the conduct and avoiding the threatened harm.

If you find that each of these things has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence, you must find the defendant not guilty.