Summary
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch noted that past rulings on double jeopardy have been unclear. The Court decided unanimously in the case Barrett v. United States that one act cannot lead to two convictions under a specific federal law about firearms used in crimes.
Key Facts
- The case Barrett v. United States dealt with the federal law 18 U.S.C. §924 about using firearms in crimes.
- The law included provisions about crimes of violence or drug trafficking and penalties if these acts lead to death.
- The issue was whether one act could result in two convictions under these provisions.
- The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that one act can only lead to one conviction.
- Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed concerns about past confusion on double jeopardy.
- The Court's decision overturns an earlier ruling and sends the case back for more proceedings.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated that Congress did not authorize two convictions for one act under these sections.
