The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects a person from being “twice put in jeopardy of life or limb” for the same offense. This morning, the United States Supreme Court granted a petition for certiorari in Currier v. Virginia, No. 16-1454, to decide “[w]hether a defendant who consents to severance of multiple charges into sequential trials loses his right under the Double Jeopardy Clause to the issue-preclusive effect of an acquittal.” Mr. Currier's certiorari petition describes a four to four circuit split in lower state and federal courts on this issue.
Jeffrey Fisher is counsel of record for Mr. Currier. SCOTUSblog links NACDL’s amicus brief in support of the petition, and the Virginia Supreme Court opinion below.