State v. Williams

OPINION

The United States Constitution and the Alaska Constitution each provide that no person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense. U.S. Const, amend. Y; Alaska Const, art. 1, § 9. In this case, the trial court dismissed an indictment for tampering with evidence against Travis Dean Williams, who had been acquitted of first-degree murder in connection with the same incident. The double jeopardy protection afforded by the Alaska Constitution requires this result.

A majority of the court holds that article 1, section 9 of the Alaska Constitution incorporates the approach to serial…