Blueford v. Arkansas

Summary

The Supreme Court held that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar retrying Blueford on capital and first-degree murder charges where the jury reported unanimity against guilt on those charges before deliberations concluded. The Court found that the foreperson's report was not a final acquittal since deliberations continued, and the trial court properly declared a mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict. Justice Sotomayor dissented, arguing that under Arkansas law, the jury's announcement constituted a final acquittal barring retrial.