Twinkie defence

Meaning

Noun

• A legal defense of diminished responsibility based on a claim that irregular behavior is caused by a poor diet or junk food.
• Any spurious legal defense.

Origin

• From the 1979 trial of defendant Dan White for the murders of San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone. White's defense was that he suffered diminished capacity as a result of his depression; his change in diet from healthy food to Twinkies and other sugary food was said to be a symptom of this depression.