Roger Clemens Mistrial



Roger Clemens, pitcher of the New York Yankees and formerly for the Boston Red Sox, may have all charges dropped due to potentially being double jeopardy. CBS reports:

Clemens will now argue all charges should be dropped, based on constitutional bans on double jeopardy — two trials for the same offense. Legally, it’s a long-shot, but a hearing is set for Sept. 2.

ESPN calls it a fortunate mistrial:

In a peculiar twist of fate, the judge presiding over Roger Clemens’ perjury trial declared a mistrial. Prosecutors left video evidence that the judge had previously (and explicitly) disallowed in a viewable place in the courtroom. While lawyers argued other points, the jury saw the evidence. Was it intentional, or as the judge called it, a “first-year law student” mistake? The answers to those questions will help determine whether Judge Reggie Walton opts for a new trial, or decides a new trial would constitute double jeopardy and ends the case, giving Clemens a get-out-of-jail-free card.

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