Archives for December 2022
What Is Double Jeopardy in Criminal Law?
December 22, 2022 by
What Prevents You from Being Charged Again for the Same Crime?
You’ve been arrested, charged and prosecuted for a crime, but the jury acquitted you. Can you be prosecuted again for the same event? If not, what prohibits that?
The concept of multiple prosecutions for the same criminal act is known as “double jeopardy.” Double jeopardy has a long history in criminal law, with measures in force in England to prevent it long before the American Revolution. The founding fathers considered protection against the practice to be so important that they included language in the 5th Amendment banning it. The relevant language states that no person shall “be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.”
When Does Double Jeopardy Not Apply?
Here are some specific instances where double jeopardy does not apply:
- It does not prevent a criminal and a civil action related to the same event, unless the civil lawsuit is deemed punitive in nature or purpose
- It does not prevent retrial if the original prosecution results in a mistrial
- It does not prevent retrial if there is evidence of jury misconduct
- It does not prevent retrial if a guilty verdict is overturned on appeal
Aggressive Baltimore Criminal Defense Lawyer
Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith brings more than three decades of proven experience to criminal defendants across the Baltimore metropolitan area and the state of Maryland, including people charged with violent crimes. He has been received an AV-rating (the highest rating possible) under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System from his colleagues in the Maryland bar for more than 34 years. He has been ranked among the top 100 lawyers in Maryland listed by SuperLawyers and was named a Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine. He has also earned Martindale-Hubbell’s Client Distinction Award, awarded to less than 4% of all lawyers nationwide.
Over the past 30 years, attorney Smith has successfully protected the rights of individuals facing all types of criminal charges, including prosecution for domestic violence or abuse. He will work hard to protect your constitutional rights, fully investigating your case to verify that law enforcement officers and prosecutors follow proper procedures when gathering evidence. He’ll question all potential witnesses and preserve all relevant evidence, so that he can prepare and present the most compelling arguments for your acquittal.
Attorney Smith has been listed among the top 100 attorneys in Maryland by the National Trial Lawyers Association, a “by invitation only” professional organization. He holds a 10.0 (Superb) rating as a trial attorney from AVVO, as well as AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with an average client review of 5 stars.
Aggressive Howard County Criminal Defense Attorney
Contact our office by e-mail or call 410-740-0101 for a free initial consultation. We represent criminal defendants in Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
The Differences between a Criminal Prosecution and a Civil Lawsuit
December 15, 2022 by
There are distinct differences between prosecution for a criminal offense and the pursuit of a legal remedy through a civil proceeding:
- Burden of proof—In a criminal prosecution, the jury must have no reasonable doubt as to your guilt. In a civil proceeding, they only need to conclude that your version of the facts is more believable than your opponent’s story.
- The sanctions/penalties—In a criminal proceeding, you can face incarceration, fines (payable to the state), restitution (payable to the victim), community service, probation and even, in some jurisdictions, the death penalty. In a civil lawsuit, the remedy is customarily a monetary damage award, though there are limited situations where a court may compel a party to do something.
- The source of the law—As a general rule, crimes are established by statute, a written law enacted by a legislative body. Though some civil wrongs are also statutory, most are derived from the common law, written down in opinions of judges in prior cases.
- The parties—In a criminal prosecution, one of the parties is always the government, acting on behalf of the people. In a civil matter, the parties are usually private citizens or companies, though the government may be a party to a civil lawsuit.
Proven Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer
Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith has protected the rights of criminal defendants in Maryland for more than 30 years, including people charged with misdemeanors or felonies. SuperLawyers has named him one of the top 100 lawyers in Maryland and The American Lawyer Magazine has also cited him as a Top-Rated Lawyer.
Attorney Smith has been AV-rated (the highest possible) by his colleagues in the legal profession under Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Rating System for more than three decades. He has also received Martindale-Hubbell’s prized Client Distinction Award, an accolade earned by less than 4% of all attorneys nationwide. He carries a 10.0 (Superb rating) as a trial lawyer from AVVO and has also earned AVVO’s Client’s Choice Award, with an average client review of 5 stars.
A highly-regarded trial attorney, Jonathan has an extensive knowledge and understanding of Maryland criminal law and procedure. He knows how to effectively gather and preserve evidence and will take all necessary measures to ensure that law enforcement officers did not violate your constitutional rights.
Contact a Proven Maryland Violent Crimes Defense Lawyer
At the law offices of Jonathan Scott Smith, we aggressively advocate for criminal defendants throughout the greater Baltimore area and across the state of Maryland. Contact us online or call 410-740-0101 to arrange a meeting. We handle cases throughout Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County and Montgomery County in Maryland.
