June 9, 2016
Judge Tom
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Judge Tom

Dear Isabella: As you know, double jeopardy is a defense against being tried again on the same (or similar) charges when there’s been a legitimate acquittal by a judge or jury or conviction. It means you can’t be tried twice for the same offense. A recent example in the news is the Casey Anthony child murder case in Florida a few years ago. Casey was acquitted by a jury, so no matter what new evidence surfaces (including her own confession), she can’t be retried for her daughter’s death. The same for O.J. Simpson’s acquittal in the nineties for two deaths.
If you google “double jeopardy” you’ll find extensive discussions on this principle (pro and con) to help you in your research and writing. Good luck.
(This is information only – not legal advice).

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.