October Term 2017 · Docket 16-1348
Does voluntary consent to separate trials waive double jeopardy protection?
The dispute centers on whether a defendant who consents to severing charges loses the right to block a second trial.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Virginia's advocate argued that consent to multiple trials waives double jeopardy claims.
Currier's advocate argued that issue preclusion applies when severance is legally required.
Justices questioned the practical impact of barring a second trial on remaining charges.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Double Jeopardy Clause. It asks if voluntary procedural choices override constitutional protections against multiple trials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 20, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-1
What each side wants
Virginia wants the Court to hold that consent waives double jeopardy rights.
Currier wants the Court to hold that double jeopardy bars the second trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
What each side says
Virginia argues that voluntary litigation choices forfeit constitutional protections against retrial.
Currier argues that issue preclusion applies when severance is required by law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked what remains for a prosecutor if retrial is barred.
Justice Alito noted that consent allows a second trial under prior precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of double jeopardy protection. It determines whether defendants can waive constitutional rights through procedural consent. The outcome shapes how prosecutors structure multi-charge cases. It affects the balance between state efficiency and individual liberty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-37
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-13
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.