Dictionary of Law
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jeopardy :: legal definition


Jeopardy - n. peril, particularly danger of being charged with or convicted of a particular crime. The U.S. Constitution guarantees in the Fifth Amendment that no one can "be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb" for the same offense. Thus, once a person has been acquitted, he/she may not be charged again for that crime. However, if there was a mistrial, hung jury or reversal of conviction on appeal (but the defendant was not declared innocent in the ruling), the defendant may be charged with the crime again and tried again. In a few situations, a defendant is not in double jeopardy when being tried for a violation of a similar (but different) federal criminal (penal) statute based on some of the same circumstances as a state prosecution, such as violation of a murder victim's civil rights, as was done in the case against the killer of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

See also: double jeopardy and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
amnesty :: n. a blanket abolition of an offense by the govern ... rget the offenses. See also: pardon
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
but for rule :: n. one of several tests to determine if a defendan ... e damage. See also: proximate cause
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil liberties :: n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the F ... nment. See also: civil civil rights
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
color of law :: n. the appearance of an act being performed based ... xtort payoffs to forget the ticket.
comity :: n. when one court defers to the jurisdiction of an ... of cases to which comity may apply.
commutation :: n. the act of reducing a criminal sentence resulti ... See also: executive clemency pardon
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
confession :: n. the statement of one charged with a crime that ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
confrontation :: n. 1) fight or argument. 2) the right of a crimina ... s. See also: Bill of Rights witness
criminal :: 1) n. a popular term for anyone who has committed ... so: convict felon habitual criminal
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
judgment creditor :: n. the winning plaintiff in a lawsuit to whom the ... 's rights judgment prevailing party
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
nominal party :: n. a defendant or a plaintiff included in a lawsui ... ed. See also: necessary party party
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
preliminary hearing :: n. in criminal law, a hearing to determine if a pe ... nment charge Grand Jury information
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
speedy trial :: n. in criminal prosecutions, the right of a defend ... hurt by the waiver. See also: trial
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof
wet reckless :: n. a plea to a charge of reckless driving which wa ... conviction. See also: plea bargain

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - J

J :: n. abbreviation for Judge, as in the Hon. William ... as in the Hon. William B. Boone, J.
Jane Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible female ... lso: fictitious defendants John Doe
jaywalking :: n. walking across a street outside of marked cross ... jury to the jaywalker by a vehicle.
JD :: n. short for Juris Doctor, identifying the holder ... law degree. See also: Juris Doctor
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
jobber :: n. a merchant who buys products (usually in bulk o ... buys and acts for specific clients.
John Doe :: n. 1) a fictitious name used for a possible male d ... lso: fictitious defendants Jane Doe
joinder :: n. the joining together of several lawsuits or sev ... er misjoinder multiplicity of suits
joinder of issue :: n. that point in a lawsuit when the defendant has ... matters are to be decided by trial.
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
joint adventure :: n. when two or more people go together on a trip o ... e activity. See also: joint venture
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint enterprise :: n. a generic term for an activity of two or more p ... liability joint venture partnership
joint liability :: n. when two or more persons are both responsible f ... See also: joinder joint and several
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
joint tortfeasors :: n. two or more persons whose negligence in a singl ... : comparative negligence negligence
joint venture :: n. an enterprise entered into by two or more peopl ... s terminated. See also: partnership
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law