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No. 20-7622October Term 2020Decided Jun 13, 2022Updated May 24, 2026

Docket 20-7622October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

Denezpi v. United States

This case asked whether the federal government violated the Double Jeopardy Clause by prosecuting Merle Denezpi in federal court after he had already been prosecuted in a Court of Indian Offenses for conduct arising from the same incident on tribal land.

Case status

Decided 6-3 · June 13, 2022 · Opinion by Justice Barrett

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 13, 2022
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 13, 2022
What it's about

This case asked whether the federal government violated the Double Jeopardy Clause by prosecuting Merle Denezpi in federal court after he had already been prosecuted in a Court of Indian Offenses for conduct arising from the same incident on tribal land. The Supreme Court held that the later federal prosecution was allowed because the two prosecutions were for different offenses.

Question presented

Is the Court of Indian Offenses of Ute Mountain Ute Agency a federal agency such that Merle Denezpi's conviction in that court barred his subsequent prosecution in a United States District Court for a crime arising out of the same incident?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit / Decision released Jun 13, 2022

Area

Administrative Law

Timing

Decided June 13, 2022

The Court released its decision on June 13, 2022 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity3
  • Brief added: Questions Presented

    May 24, 2026 | Court records

  • Opinion added: opinion

    Jun 13, 2022 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Mar 26, 2021 | Court records