Amendment Quote by Robert Shapiro
“The 5th Amendment guarantees that defendants can't face 'double jeopardy,' which means the government can't prosecute a person a second time for the same crime if the jury returns a verdict. Only if the jury doesn't reach a decision can prosecutors elect to retry the case.”
About This Quote
Source Legal Text: United States Constitution, Fifth Amendment, 1791
The amendment protects individuals from being tried twice for the same offense, preventing repeated prosecution after a verdict.
In simple terms: No double trial for the same crime.
Respect final verdicts; avoid repeated prosecutions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- criminal trials
- jury deadlocks
- appeals
- retrial decisions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does double jeopardy balance state power and individual rights?
- When should exceptions apply?
If new evidence emerges, the law may still allow a retrial, complicating the protection.