# Cato Expert: Yesterday’s Double Jeopardy Decision Raises Questions 

January 15, 2026 • News Releases 

Yesterday, the Supreme Court decided unanimously in [*Barrett v. United States*](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.supremecourt.gov*2Fopinions*2F25pdf*2F24-5774_9nbe.pdf/1/0100019bc25670b1-3bdffc96-bae1-42ab-8800-0888f8af31c7-000000/hXqa7QnRotXzH0la7w0rF1OgK2o=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjJjYjY4YTliYTQ2Yjc4Nzg0MzhkM2U0NmM4ZGZmOGI2Ojc6OTY1NzoyMjQ0NDgxM2RjYWFlZDExMTMwYTgxOWJhYzRkYjNiYWNhYmQ4NDQ0ZWRmNzQ4YmFiNTMwOWViOTU5OTQyMTgxOmg6VDpO) that prosecutors cannot get separate convictions for a single act unless it is clear Congress intended to allow cumulative punishment.

In a recent [blog post,](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fcongress-or-constitution-yesterdays-double-jeopardy-decision-raises-questions/1/0100019bc25670b1-3bdffc96-bae1-42ab-8800-0888f8af31c7-000000/-7rQiJnMdxKZUN0LPvM9iIN0GcU=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjJjYjY4YTliYTQ2Yjc4Nzg0MzhkM2U0NmM4ZGZmOGI2Ojc6MGQxZDo2YjgzMzFiNTkzOTA4NThmNjUzMzQ5NjAxNjAxYzBlM2ViYmUxNmExZGVlMjkwYjg4NDI1M2EyOTJiMzk5MDA3Omg6VDpO) [Matthew Cavedon](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fmatthew-cavedon/1/0100019bc25670b1-3bdffc96-bae1-42ab-8800-0888f8af31c7-000000/-lZI-OEZ4U6uGiSEn4EYowgF1Rc=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjJjYjY4YTliYTQ2Yjc4Nzg0MzhkM2U0NmM4ZGZmOGI2Ojc6YzRkYTo3ODg4NmU2YjRkMjJjYjdkN2QzYTA5ZGM3MzFhMTAyMDllZWFjMjZjNDMxN2RiYWJmNTI0Y2ZlYjY1MzhkZDgwOmg6VDpO), director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice, argues that the court is allowing Congress to decide what the Constitution states on double jeopardy, rather than independently interpreting the Fifth Amendment:

> “It is easy to understand why Justice Gorsuch is concerned. [As I have warned in the Second Amendment context](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Funited-states-v-duarte-brief-universal-lifetime-disarmament-felons-unconstitutional/1/0100019bc25670b1-3bdffc96-bae1-42ab-8800-0888f8af31c7-000000/KbtFVvpRclb6zQyHdl2v9VAG6nc=461___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjJjYjY4YTliYTQ2Yjc4Nzg0MzhkM2U0NmM4ZGZmOGI2Ojc6NWJjZTo4MmJlMDMzN2UyZGJmY2ZkMTM2ZmEzMDVlNjBjMmFkNzQ4MmJmNWFlMGQ5ZTE2MTQzMDZjMjMxYmJhNzZmMzU1Omg6VDpO): ‘Exceptions to individual rights do not move with the political winds.’ If there are any things that shouldn’t be placed in jeopardy whenever legislators feel like it, they’re core constitutional protections — such as the one against double jeopardy.”

To speak with Cavedon on the decision in *Barrett v. United States*, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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