I’m sure you can see where my thoughts are going. If incompetent people are replace, can the newly elected officials pull up the list of “released rioters” and prosecute?
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I’m sure you can see where my thoughts are going. If incompetent people are replace, can the newly elected officials pull up the list of “released rioters” and prosecute?
Yes they can
That is precisely what they did to Bill Cosby. So yes, they sure can. But whether they can or not is no longer an issue--it depends on who is democrat and who is republican as to what courts will rule. There is no law. It is simply one mad fight for survival.
Charges dropped mean there was no initial case. Double jeopardy doesnt apply
That's kind of where I was mentally going...
My understanding (and I don’t live local to Portland) was that the rioters were simply released without charge the day after they were arrested. I am not sure what that means in regard to prejudice (in the legal sense)?
Dismissed with prejudice means they cannot bring back charges. Usually this is actually from a diversion agreement. For example, the prosecution may agree to drop your charges in the future if you stay out of trouble, do some community service, take some classes, etc.. I actually think this can be a good thing in many cases for first time offenders, but the problem may be equal application of the law. Will we see the people from 1/6 get any similar treatment? Maybe for some people who really didn’t do much at all, but I have my doubts.
It means they can probably bring up charges again at a later time as long as their isn't some state / local law stating otherwise.