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Simple English definitions for legal terms
spillover theory
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A quick definition of spillover theory:
Spillover theory: This is a rule that says a person can only be punished if they did something wrong, not just because they were with someone who did something wrong. If two people are accused of a crime together, and one person's evidence might make the other person look bad, the judge has to decide if it's fair to have a trial together or if they should have separate trials. The judge will make sure that the jury can tell who did what and not blame someone just because they were with the other person.
A more thorough explanation:
The spillover theory is a principle in criminal law that states that a defendant can only be granted a separate trial if they can prove that being tried with a co-defendant would unfairly prejudice their case. This can happen when evidence that is admissible against one defendant is also used against the other defendant, even if it is not relevant to their case.
For example, if two people are accused of robbing a bank together, and one of them made a confession that implicates both of them, the confession could unfairly influence the jury's decision against the other defendant. In this case, the defendant could argue for a separate trial to avoid being unfairly prejudiced by the confession.
The spillover theory is based on the idea that a jury's unfavorable impression of one defendant could influence their view of the other defendant, even if the evidence is not relevant to their case. The goal is to ensure that each defendant receives a fair and impartial trial, without being unfairly influenced by evidence that is not relevant to their case.