Opinion ID: 1355273
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Motion to dismiss on double jeopardy grounds

Text: Defendant Thomas asserts that his trial in state court violates the double jeopardy provisions of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, Article 1 section 10 of the Tennessee Constitution, and Article 14 section 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights because the Defendant's federal charges arise from the same criminal event. It is a well-established principle that a federal prosecution does not bar a subsequent state prosecution of the same person for the same acts, and a state prosecution does not bar a federal one ... [P]rosecutions under the laws of separate sovereigns do not, in the language of the Fifth Amendment, `subject [the defendant] for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy.' United States v. Wheeler, 435 U.S. 313, 317, 98 S.Ct. 1079, 1082-83, 55 L.Ed.2d 303 (1978). Defendant Thomas argues, however, that the dual sovereignty doctrine is violative of the Tennessee constitution and argues for its abrogation. However, our supreme court has specifically upheld and determined to adhere to this doctrine of dual sovereignty, reasoning as follows: There is no question but that such a procedure does not subject the defendant to double jeopardy insofar as the guaranty of due process in the 14th amendment of the federal constitution is concerned. Bartkus v. Illinois, 359 U.S. 121, 79 S.Ct. 676, 3 L.Ed.2d 684 (1959). While the rationale of this case  that the state and federal governments are distinct sovereignties, and thus the punishment of a single act by ach is not double jeopardy  has been criticized, a similar approach has provided the basis for a more recent case, which would imply that Bartkus' analysis of the issue is still valid. See United States v. Wheeler, 435 U.S. 313, 98 S.Ct. 1079, 55 L.Ed.2d 303 (1978). This court is bound by the decisions of the United States Supreme Court concerning the proper interpretation of the federal constitution. Townsend v. Clover Bottom Hospital and School, 560 S.W.2d 623 (Tenn.1978). The double jeopardy provision of the Tennessee constitution, Article I, § 10, affords the defendant no greater protection. In the past, this provision has been interpreted to permit successive state and federal prosecutions on the basis of the same dual sovereignties analysis employed in Bartkus, supra, and, given the need for stability in constitutional interpretation, we see insufficient cause to depart from that precedent now. Lavon v. State, 586 S.W.2d 112, 113-14 (Tenn.1979). The Lavon court further explained that any modification or abandonment of the dual sovereignty doctrine must be accomplished through legislative action. See id. at 115. Such legislative action has yet to take place; thus, the doctrine of dual sovereignty remains in effect. Additionally, Defendant Thomas asserts that the State's prosecution violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is an international treaty of governing nations. This Court addressed and rejected this identical claim in State v. Carpenter, 69 S.W.3d 568, 578-579 (Tenn.Crim.App.2001), cert. den. 535 U.S. 995, 122 S.Ct. 1557, 152 L.Ed.2d 480 (2002). Defendant Thomas has not convinced this Court to sway from this decision. This claim is without merit.