Symbolic interaction theory holds that behavior is learned from interactions with people and events through verbalization and definitions as well as interpretation of acts. The authors first introduce the interactionist tradition of inquiry into the role of accounts in social action, with attention to excuses and justification offered by defendants in court. The court is the site for many interactionists' studies because this is where persons explain themselves, justify their actions, and offer excuses for their behavior. The studies reviewed in this connection are Cressey's "Other People's Money" (1953), Taylor's study of sexual offenders' accounts of their crimes (1972), and Emerson's examination of delinquents' use of excuses and justifications in the juvenile court (1969). The chapter then addresses lawyers' application of conceptions of delinquents in courtroom interaction before turning to negotiation and sentencing. Finally, the authors examine the professional-dominance thesis in relation to lawyer-client and court-defendant interaction.