_hot_ - Double Jeopardy

However, the families of the victims sued Simpson in . The standard in civil court is lower ("preponderance of the evidence" vs. "beyond a reasonable doubt"). A civil jury found Simpson "liable" for the deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million.

The next time you watch a crime drama and a lawyer shouts "Double Jeopardy!" over a mistrial or a technicality, you will know the truth: It is infinitely more complex, shockingly limited, and utterly essential to the concept of liberty. Double Jeopardy

To understand Double Jeopardy is to understand the delicate balance between the power of the state and the rights of the individual. This article will dissect the history, the mechanics, the controversies, and the shocking limits of one of America’s most misunderstood legal doctrines. However, the families of the victims sued Simpson in