Blueford v. Arkansas

Summary

The Supreme Court held that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar retrial on capital and first-degree murder charges after a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury, even though the foreperson reported unanimous acquittal votes on those charges. The Court reasoned the report lacked finality because deliberations continued and instructions did not prohibit reconsidering votes. Justice Sotomayor, dissenting, argued the report constituted an acquittal under state instructions and retrial was barred.