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Simple English definitions for legal terms
legal jeopardy
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A quick definition of legal jeopardy:
Legal jeopardy refers to the risk of being found guilty and punished in a criminal trial. This risk begins when a jury is selected or the first witness is sworn in a bench trial. It is also known as jeopardy and is protected by the principle of double jeopardy, which prevents a person from being tried for the same crime twice.
A more thorough explanation:
Legal jeopardy refers to the risk of being convicted and punished that a criminal defendant faces during a trial. It is also known as jeopardy.
In a jury trial, jeopardy attaches when the jury is selected and sworn in. In a bench trial, jeopardy attaches when the first witness is sworn in.
For example, if a person is accused of a crime and a jury is selected and sworn in, that person is now in legal jeopardy. They face the risk of being convicted and punished if the jury finds them guilty.
Another example is if a person is on trial for a crime and the first witness is sworn in during a bench trial. At this point, the person is in legal jeopardy and faces the risk of being convicted and punished if the judge finds them guilty.
Legal jeopardy is an important concept in criminal law because it protects defendants from being tried twice for the same crime, which is known as double jeopardy.