No. 20-7622October Term 2020Decided Jun 13, 2022Updated May 24, 2026
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
- 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.
Documents
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
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology