UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE
CRIST V. BRETZ, 437 U. S. 28 (1978)
437 U. S. 28U.S. Supreme Court
Crist v. Bretz, 437 U.S. 28 (1978)
Crist v. Bretz
No. 76-1200
Argued November 1, 1977
Reargued March 22, 1978
Decided June 14, 1978
437 U.S. 28
Syllabus
The federal rule that jeopardy attaches in a jury trial when the jury is empaneled and sworn, a rule that reflects and protects the defendant's interest in retaining a chosen jury, is an integral part of the Fifth Amendment guarantee against double jeopardy made applicable to the States by the Fourteenth Amendment. Hence, a Montana statute providing that jeopardy does not attach until the first witness is sworn cannot constitutionally be applied in a jury trial. Pp. 437 U. S. 32-38.
546 F. d 1336, affirmed.
STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BRENNAN, WHITE, MARSHALL, BLACKMUN, and STEVENS, JJ., joined. BLACKMUN, J., filed a concurring opinion, post, p. 437 U. S. 38. BURGER, C.J.,filed a dissenting opinion, post, p. 437 U. S. 39. POWELL, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which BURGER, C.J.,and REHNQUIST, J., joined, post, p. 437 U. S. 40. clubjuris