Block v. State

The issue in this criminal case is whether, under the circumstances set forth below, the retrial of the defendant would violate the prohibition against double jeopardy on the ground that the defendant had previously been acquitted of the same offense.

The defendant, Gielle Fink Block, on March 16, 1978, was tried in the District Court of Maryland, sitting in Montgomery County, on a single charge of shoplifting merchandise under the value of $100.00. At the conclusion of her trial on that date, the district judge rendered a verdict of guilty but deferred imposing a sentence. Eleven days later,…