Opinion ID: 2087328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the separate sovereigns doctrine

Text: As a preliminary constitutional matter, we note that the State and Federal double jeopardy clauses do not bar this prosecution under the long-recognized separate sovereigns doctrine. [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. The basis for this doctrine is that prosecutions under the laws of separate sovereigns do not, in the language of the Fifth Amendment, `subject [the defendant] for the same offence [ sic ] to be twice put in jeopardy.' United States v. Wheeler (1978), 435 U.S. 313, 317, 98 S.Ct. 1079, 1082-83, 55 L.Ed.2d 303, 308-09. See also Bartkus v. Illinois (1959), 359 U.S. 121, 132, 79 S.Ct. 676, 682-83, 3 L.Ed.2d 684, 691-92.