double jeopardy

noun

1

: the putting of a person on trial for an offense for which he or she has previously been put on trial under a valid charge : two adjudications for one offense

2

: considerable danger or trouble from two sources

Examples of double jeopardy in a Sentence

constitutional protections against double jeopardy

Recent Examples on the Web

Defense attorneys argued that the state’s double jeopardy law prohibits defendants from being tried more than once on the same crime. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2024

What else happened? At Friday’s hearing, defense attorney Daniel Aaronson argued that a retrial violates Melly’s double jeopardy as Bradley didn’t share Brady material related to the incident with a Miramar police detective during the first trial. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 June 2024

However, his public defenders argued the state trial would represent double jeopardy since the two cases stem from the same act, even though the charges are not identical. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 June 2024

Patterson’s attorney sought the case’s dismissal on double jeopardy grounds. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

double jeopardy

noun

: the prosecution of a person for an offense for which he or she has already been prosecuted see also jeopardy compare merger sense 3

Note: The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” The double jeopardy clause bars second prosecutions after either acquittal or conviction, and prohibits multiple punishments for the same offense.