Barrett v. United States

Summary

Justice Jackson’s opinion of the Court held that Congress did not authorize separate convictions under 18 U.S.C. §§924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 924(j) for a single act violating both provisions. The provisions define the same offense under Blockburger, and neither the statutory text nor its structure clearly overcomes the presumption against multiple convictions. The Court reversed the relevant part of the Second Circuit’s judgment and remanded. Jackson’s legislative-history discussion in Part IV–C was joined only by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Sotomayor and Kagan. Justice Gorsuch, writing alone, concurred in all other parts and argued that the Court should eventually resolve whether the Double Jeopardy Clause categorically prohibits multiple convictions for the same offense even when Congress expressly authorizes them.