- Joined
- Jun 22, 2013
- Messages
- 19,469
- Reaction score
- 26,240
- Location
- Mid-West USA
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Other
There is a case pending adjudication before SCOTUS where the Petitioner Terance Martez Gamble is asking:
The Petitioner's brief is found here:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-646/62536/20180904142141905_17-646 ts.pdf
Currently judicial precedent supports the "separate sovereigns" rule allowing citizens to be tried for the same offense in both Federal and State courts.
Here is the Government's brief:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-646/68026/20181025142116245_17-646 Gamble.pdf
Why is this important?:
Double Jeopardy protections were incorporated as applying to States via Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969).
We all know that Manafort pled guilty to State crimes he has not been charged with as well as Federal crimes he was charged with in his plea agreement with Mueller.
This was done to prevent him from escaping charges in State court if Trump pardons him.
That is the loophole in current Double Jeopardy protections; a person can be tried for the same offense in both State and Federal courts. This has become a major problem as Federal law has expanded criminal codes which mirror State codes in many areas.
If the current SCOTUS should end up overruling precedent in this case, then Manafort could be pardoned by Trump and escape the prosecution trap set for him by his plea deal.
I personally agree with the petitioner's argument, not because of Manafort, but because the separate sovereigns rule does allow trial for the same crime twice, and that is a direct contradiction to the intent of the Double Jeopardy clause. No defendant should have to face the possibility of being punished twice for the same offense.
I will be watching this case closely.
Whether the Court should overrule the “separate sovereigns” exception to the Double Jeopardy Clause.
The Petitioner's brief is found here:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-646/62536/20180904142141905_17-646 ts.pdf
Currently judicial precedent supports the "separate sovereigns" rule allowing citizens to be tried for the same offense in both Federal and State courts.
Here is the Government's brief:
Whether the Court should reinterpret the Double Jeopardy Clause and overturn the long-held understanding that offenses against the laws of different sovereigns are not the “same offence.”
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-646/68026/20181025142116245_17-646 Gamble.pdf
Why is this important?:
Double Jeopardy protections were incorporated as applying to States via Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969).
We all know that Manafort pled guilty to State crimes he has not been charged with as well as Federal crimes he was charged with in his plea agreement with Mueller.
This was done to prevent him from escaping charges in State court if Trump pardons him.
That is the loophole in current Double Jeopardy protections; a person can be tried for the same offense in both State and Federal courts. This has become a major problem as Federal law has expanded criminal codes which mirror State codes in many areas.
If the current SCOTUS should end up overruling precedent in this case, then Manafort could be pardoned by Trump and escape the prosecution trap set for him by his plea deal.
I personally agree with the petitioner's argument, not because of Manafort, but because the separate sovereigns rule does allow trial for the same crime twice, and that is a direct contradiction to the intent of the Double Jeopardy clause. No defendant should have to face the possibility of being punished twice for the same offense.
I will be watching this case closely.
Last edited: