The phrase "attempting to justify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to provide reasons or explanations for a particular action, belief, or situation.
Example: "He was attempting to justify his decision to leave the company during the meeting."
Alternatives: "trying to explain" or "seeking to rationalize".
Attempting to justify his big-screen graduation Iannucci summons a couple of star performers.
I am not attempting to justify anything; I am trying to motivate informed and reflective choices.
"You're attempting to justify why you're tracking your users, but you're still tracking them".
Claiborne thereupon sailed to England in 1637, attempting to justify his claim, but the commissioner of plantations ruled against him.
Banning photographs at Dover, Mr. Gran said, "represents an important instance of the government attempting to justify its objectives".
Three months later they issued a response to the nine-main charges against them, dismissing most of the allegations and attempting to justify their actions.
Isis considers Yazidis heretical and published an article in its propaganda magazine Dabiq attempting to justify the practice of selling them using theological rulings of early Islam.
In covert recordings, Barrett told them he shot Finucane, attempting to justify it by saying the solicitor was a top IRA man.
He developed ISIS propaganda and recorded lectures "attempting to justify and encouraging the slaughter of innocents," the Pentagon said, in a statement.
A group of us met with her in the prime ministerial office suite in Parliament House in a bizarre interchange attempting to justify her position.
Attempting to justify its actions Wednesday, the Georgian interior ministry released an audio recording Thursday that officials said showed Ms. Burdzhanadze and her son discussed violence to overthrow the government.
