Summary of U.S v. Ball

U.S v. Ball

This is one of the earlier cases on double jeopardy. In 1889, defendants Millard Fillmore Ball, John C. Ball and Robert E. Boutwell were indicted for the murder of William T. Box. The jury acquitted Millard Fillmore and convicted the other two. The convicted dffs (Defendant) appealed to the Supreme Court, which reversed their convictions in 1891, holding that the indictment was insufficient. All three were indicted for the murder a second time. On appeal, the court held that under the double jeopardy clause- the insufficiency of the first indictment could not remove the jeopardy bar of acquittal, as long as the first court had jurisdiction.