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

Read's attorneys had argued in court filings that retrying her on the charges would violate double jeopardy protections because, based on subsequent statements from four jurors, the jury had reached a unanimous decision to acquit Read on the charges. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2024

Judge Margaret Van Houten ruled Friday that retrying Jackson-Bolanos on the felony murder charge would constitute double jeopardy, violating his Fifth Amendment rights. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024

The outcome defies common sense and goes against bedrock principles of our legal system, such as deference to historical decisions and no double jeopardy—in this case, the ‘912 patent has been subjected to quintuple jeopardy. —Chuck Hong, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2024

Patterson failed to show that the court abused its discretion in discharging the jury, Tarrant County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Page Simpson wrote in the state’s response to the defense double jeopardy argument. —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.