Supreme Court Limits Double Jeopardy

In Blueford v. Arkansas, 10-1320, petitioner was on trial for capital murder. The jury informed the court that they were unanimous that petitioner was not guilty of capital murder but deadlocked on a lesser count. The trial judge declared a mistrial. The Supreme Court held that since petitioner was not acquitted of capital or first-degree murder, even though the forewoman announced in open court that the jury was “unanimous against” convicting Blueford of those crimes, he nevertheless could be retried for capital murder.