The boy has confessed. He's still entitled to put on a defense, I take it. And he's still entitled to seek support for that defense. In any case, you can break

The boy has confessed. He's still entitled to put on a defense, I take it. And he's still entitled to seek support for that defense. In any case, you can break the law, and then argue, in certain places and circumstances, and without self-contradiction (which I suppose would be the possibility you find problematic) that you shouldn't be punished because a) the law is unjust or unconstitutional, or b) breaking the law was necessary to prevent greater harm (though if I recall correctly the latter defense by necessity is not permitted in most cases of civil disobedience in the US).