Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byBryana Earnest Modified over 9 years ago
1
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Class Fourteen
2
Today’s Topics Overview: “Protections” Impact of Acquittal D’s Appeal Second Trial of Convicted D – “Same Offense” – D Responsible
3
Today’s Topics Collateral Estoppel Dual Sovereigns Aborted Proceedings Vindictiveness
4
Double Jeopardy Chapter Twelve
5
Constitutional Provision Fifth Amendment – [N]or shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb Applicable to state prosecutions [Incorporation Doctrine] in 1969
6
Common Fact Patterns Second prosecution after acquittal Second prosecution after conviction Multiple punishments
7
Acquittal Consequences for Prosecution Second prosecution barred -- even if acquittal was a mistake No appeal from acquittal -- even if rulings supporting acquittal were incorrect No new trial from jury verdict of acquittal
8
Determining if Court Action = Acquittal United States v. Scott – Final determination of guilt/innocence necessary – Contrast with mistrial – Contrast with dismissal
9
Determining if Court Action = Acquittal Sanabria v. United States – Trial judge believed he was construing indictment and ruling on merits United States v. Martin Lemon – If trial judge enters judgment of acquittal before jury reaches verdict, that determination is final
10
Defendant’s Appeal Issue: What is the double jeopardy effect of a reversal? Concept: Results vary depending on the ground on which reversal is based [sufficiency vs. trial error]
11
Reversal: Insufficient Evidence Issue: Does it make a difference whether it is reviewing court or trial court/jury that determines evidence is insufficient – Remember: Finding of insufficient evidence at trial = verdict of acquittal Burks v. United States Jeopardy interest: Prohibits prosecution from another opportunity to supply or muster evidence it failed to provide in first case
12
Sufficiency vs. Trial Error Reversal for trial error does not equate to decision that gov’t failed to prove its case – Implies nothing about guilt/innocence – Is determination that D has been convicted through process that is defective – Therefore, no jeopardy bar for retrial
13
Balancing Interests D has strong interest in fair determination of guilt free from fundamental error Society has valid interest in ensuring guilty are punished.
14
Reversal: Trial Court Error Considering “improper” evidence in gauging sufficiency – Issue: What impact when legally competent evidence is insufficient but trial judge erroneously allowed incompetent evidence to be introduced at trial [and the resulting combination was sufficient] – Lockhart v. Nelson Defective charging instrument – Montana v. Hall
15
Reversal: Trial Court Error Weight v. Sufficiency – Tibbs v. Florida
16
Second Trial of Convicted D Concept: Following valid conviction, the same offense cannot be prosecuted again Problem: Determining what is the same offense – Examples: lesser included offense [think: aggravated robbery with gun, non-weapon robbery]; closely related offenses [think: speeding and failure to use turn signal in same transaction] Analytical Key: Blockburger Rule
17
Blockburger Test Asks whether each statutory provision contains an element the other does not
18
Blockburger Crime One A B C Crime Two A B D
19
Blockburger Examples Brown v. Ohio – Joyriding as lesser included of auto theft – Second conviction violated double jeopardy Grady v. Corbin – Now abandoned “same conduct” test – Constitutional detour
20
Blockburger Examples United States v. Dixon – Criminal contempt & possession drugs Rutledge v. United States – Elements of conspiracy and “in concert” aspect of CCE [continuing criminal enterprise]
21
Recap: Blockburger Application Separate – Crime One A B C – Crime Two A B D Same – Crime One A B C – Crime Two A B C Lesser Included – Crime One A B C – Crime Two A B
22
Remedy for Violations Frequently, reversal and dismissal of results in second prosecution “Reformation” – Morris v. Matthews [reduced to conviction for lesser included offense] D burden: “reasonable probability would not have been convicted of non-jeopardy barred offense absent presence of jeopardy-barred offense”
23
When D Responsible for Multiple Prosecutions Concept: If D is responsible for multiple prosecutions, double jeopardy limitation not applicable – Jeffers v. United States [D opposed government attempt to consolidate] Cf, Rutledge – Ohio v. Johnson [D chose over gov’t objection to split offenses] Caution: As matter of state law, later trial might raise question of cumulative punishments
24
Collateral Estoppel
25
Collateral Estoppel: Background Multiple victims = multiple offenses May be circumstances when even separate trials on distinct offenses are constitutionally barred --- when cases have ultimate fact in common Constitutional basis: Due Process clause
26
Ashe v. Swenson: The Facts Accused defendants – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 Criminal conduct – Robbery – Car theft Crime Victims – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 Total possible charges per defendant: 7
27
Ashe Facts Trial One [Victim X] – Gov’t evidence that D had been one of robbers was weak – Jury returns verdict of not guilty – Verdict recites: “not guilty due to insufficient evidence” Trial Two [Victim Y] – Six weeks later
28
Collateral Estoppel Principle: when an issue of ultimate fact has once been determined by a valid and final judgment, that issue cannot be litigated between the same parties in any future lawsuit
29
Determining “Ultimate Fact” Consider – Pleadings – Evidence at trial – Charge [jury instruction] – Other relevant matter Conclude whether a rational jury could have granted its verdict on an issue other than the fact on which D seeks to foreclose future litigation
30
Dual Sovereigns
31
Constitutional Protection When Double Jeopardy prohibits successive prosecutions, it does so only when those prosecutions are brought by the same sovereign Dual Sovereign = possibility of dual prosecutions – Theory: each sovereign has been offended Inherent in American Federalism
32
Examples Rodney King Angleton prosecution in Houston
33
Limitations If one sovereign acting as “tool” of another --- sham, or cover – Bartkus v. Illinois Current event update: Supreme Court is considering issue this term
34
Test Your Knowledge Is a state a separate sovereign from the federal government? Is city separate sovereign from state in which it is located? Are individual states in the Union dual sovereigns vis a vis one another? Are Indian nations separate sovereign [recent Supreme Court decision]?
35
Aborted Proceedings
36
Scenarios Trial ends prematurely Mistrial declared Examples: – Prosecutor improperly comments on D’s failure to testify and D seeks mistrial – Prosecution’s key witness fails to appear in response to subpoena – Jury is deadlocked and cannot reach verdict
37
Key Terms “Attachment” “Manifest Necessity”
38
Attachment Jury trial – When jury empaneled and sworn Bench trial [to the court] – When court begins to hear evidence
39
Mistrial over D’s Objection Critical concept: Manifest necessity General rule: If there is manifest necessary, then there is exception to double jeopardy protections Test: Manifest necessity exists when end of public justice are not served if there is no retrial
40
Mistrial on D’s Motion Generally, no double jeopardy bar Exception: conduct by prosecutor intended to “goad” D into moving for mistrial
41
Vindictiveness Issue: What, if any, limitations are imposed on courts and prosecutors when a case is retried. Example: More time added to second sentence following successful appeal. – Query: Is D being punished for exercising her right to appeal.
42
Vindictiveness Courts – North Carolina v. Pearce – Presumption of vindictiveness; can be overcome Prosecutors – Presumption
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.