dowling argued october decided january petitioner dowling convicted robbing virgin islands bank wearing ski mask carrying small pistol relying federal rule evidence provides evidence crimes wrongs acts may admissible defendant purposes character evidence government introduced trial testimony one henry stated similarly masked armed dowling one two intruders entered home two weeks bank robbery although dowling acquitted charges henry case government believed henry description strengthened identification bank robber testimony linked another individual thought implicated bank robbery district permitted introduction testimony twice instructed jury dowling acquittal limited purpose testimony admitted appeals affirmed conviction ruling although government collaterally estopped acquittal offering henry testimony trial testimony inadmissible federal rules evidence admission harmless highly probable error prejudice dowling declined apply stringent standard chapman california applicable constitutional errors district error evidentiary constitutional dimension held admission testimony violate component double jeopardy clause doctrine prohibits government retaliating issue ultimate fact determined valid final judgment ashe swenson bar circumstances later use evidence simply relates alleged criminal conduct defendant acquitted prior acquittal determine ultimate issue bank robbery case second trial government required show beyond reasonable doubt dowling man entered henry house decision consistent cases held acquittal criminal case preclude government relitigating issue presented subsequent action governed lower standard proof one assortment firearms one lot emerald cut stones even lower burden proof second trial serve avoid component double jeopardy clause dowling failed satisfy burden demonstrating first jury determined one men entered henry home pp introduction evidence violate due process test fundamental fairness especially light trial judge limiting instructions testimony fundamentally unfair since jury free assess truthfulness significance testimony since trial authority exclude potentially prejudicial evidence adequately addresses possibility introduction evidence create risk jury convict defendant based inferences drawn acquitted conduct since inconsistent verdicts constitutionally tolerable since tradition government may force person acquitted one trial defend accusation subsequent proceeding amply protected double jeopardy clause pp white delivered opinion rehnquist blackmun scalia kennedy joined brennan filed dissenting opinion marshall stevens joined post robert tucker argued cause filed briefs petitioner stephen nightingale argued cause brief solicitor general starr assistant attorney general dennis deputy solicitor general bryson joseph wyderko steven hartz filed brief national association criminal lawyers amicus curiae urging reversal justice white delivered opinion petitioner trial various offenses arising bank robbery testimony admitted rule federal rules evidence relating alleged crime defendant previously acquitted committing conclude neither double jeopardy clause due process clause barred use testimony afternoon july man wearing ski mask armed small pistol robbed first pennsylvania bank frederiksted croix virgin islands taking cash bank teller approximately cash customer various personal travelers checks culprit ran bank scurried around street momentarily commandeered passing taxi van driving away scene robber pulled ski mask eyewitness slipped bank robbery taking place saw maskless man trial identified petitioner reuben dowling witnesses testified seen dowling driving hijacked taxi van outside frederiksted shortly bank robbery following arrest dowling charged federal crimes bank robbery armed robbery various crimes virgin islands law dowling pleaded guilty charges dowling first trial ended hung jury tried convicted third circuit reversed conviction appeal government virgin islands dowling third trial dowling convicted counts trial judge sentenced years imprisonment petitioner third trial government petitioner objection called woman named vena henry stand henry testified man wearing knitted mask cutout eyes carrying small handgun together man named delroy christian entered home frederiksted approximately two weeks first pennsylvania bank robbery henry testified struggle ensued unmasked intruder identified dowling based incident dowling charged virgin islands law burglary attempted robbery assault weapons offenses acquitted trial held third trial bank robbery case government assertedly elicited henry testimony two purposes first believed henry description dowling wearing mask carrying gun similar mask worn gun carried robber first pennsylvania bank strengthened government identification dowling bank robber second government sought link dowling delroy christian man entered henry home day bank robbery dowling borrowed white volkswagen friend dowling trial first pennsylvania bank robbery police officer testified shortly bank robbery partner come upon christian another man parked white volkswagen front bank car door open street christian backseat officers told two men close door men drove away north police followed volkswagen mile shortly thereafter received radio message bank robbed government theory christian friend drive getaway car dowling robbed bank opening statements government disclosed intention call henry explained rationale relying rule federal rules evidence provides evidence crimes wrongs acts may admissible defendant purposes character evidence hearing district characterized testimony highly probative circumstantial evidence ruled admissible rule app henry left stand district instructed jury petitioner acquitted robbing henry emphasized limited purpose henry testimony offered reiterated admonition final charge jury appeal third circuit determined district admitted henry testimony nevertheless affirmed dowling conviction relying decision keller held petitioner acquittal charges arising incident henry home collaterally estopped government offering evidence incident petitioner trial first pennsylvania bank robbery alternatively appeals ruled evidence inadmissible federal rules evidence noted recently held huddleston rule context similar act evidence relevant jury reasonably conclude act occurred defendant actor third circuit found henry testimony inadmissible rule prior act sought introduced subject acquittal jury second jury permitted conclude act occurred defendant actor also relied rule federal rules evidence third circuit opinion danger unfair prejudice outweighed probative value henry testimony third circuit however held admission henry testimony harmless highly probable error prejudice petitioner appeals explicitly declined apply stringent standard see chapman california applicable constitutional errors according district mistake merely evidentiary constitutional dimension rejected petitioner objections affirmed conviction dowling claims third circuit wrong found admission henry testimony offend constitution therefore declined apply chapman california supra standard granted certiorari consider dowling contention henry testimony inadmissible double jeopardy due process clauses fifth amendment ii claim acquittal case involving henry barred prosecution present case issue inadmissibility henry testimony ashe swenson recognized double jeopardy clause incorporates doctrine collateral estoppel case group masked men robbed six men playing poker basement home state unsuccessfully prosecuted ashe robbing one men six weeks later however defendant convicted robbery one players applying doctrine collateral estoppel found implicit double jeopardy clause reversed ashe conviction holding acquittal first trial precluded state charging second offense defined doctrine providing issue ultimate fact determined valid final judgment issue litigated parties future lawsuit ashe acquittal first trial foreclosed second trial circumstances case acquittal verdict meant jury unable conclude beyond reasonable doubt defendant one bandits second prosecution impermissible convicted defendant second trial second jury reached directly contrary conclusion see dowling contends principle prior acquittal precluded government introducing evidence henry testimony third trial bank robbery case disagree unlike situation ashe swenson prior acquittal determine ultimate issue present case much dowling concedes decline extend ashe swenson component double jeopardy clause exclude circumstances dowling relevant probative evidence otherwise admissible rules evidence simply relates alleged criminal conduct defendant acquitted present purposes assume sake argument dowling acquittal established reasonable doubt whether dowling masked man entered vena henry home delroy christian two weeks first pennsylvania bank robbery introduce evidence point bank robbery trial government demonstrate dowling man entered home beyond reasonable doubt government sought introduce henry testimony rule mentioned earlier huddleston supra held rule context similar act evidence relevant jury reasonably conclude act occurred defendant actor jury might reasonably conclude dowling masked man entered henry home even believe beyond reasonable doubt dowling committed crimes charged first trial component double jeopardy clause inapposite decision consistent cases held acquittal criminal case preclude government relitigating issue presented subsequent action governed lower standard proof one assortment firearms example unanimously agreed gun owner acquittal charge dealing firearms without license preclude subsequent rem forfeiture proceeding firearms even though forfeiture appropriate jury forfeiture proceeding concluded defendant committed underlying offense forfeiture action civil proceeding rejected defendant contention government estopped relitigating issue defendant alleged wrongdoing acquittal prove defendant innocent merely proves existence reasonable doubt guilt jury verdict criminal action negate possibility preponderance evidence show defendant engaged unlicensed firearms business clear difference relative burdens proof criminal civil actions precludes application doctrine collateral estoppel thus agree government constitutionally barred using henry testimony bank robbery trial reasons find merit third circuit holding doctrine collateral estoppel circumstances bars later use evidence relating prior conduct government failed prove violated criminal law even agree petitioner lower burden proof second proceeding serve avoid component double jeopardy clause agree government challenged evidence nevertheless admissible dowling demonstrate acquittal first trial represented jury determination one men entered henry home ashe swenson stated previous judgment acquittal based general verdict courts must examine record prior proceeding taking account pleadings evidence charge relevant matter conclude whether rational jury grounded verdict issue defendant seeks foreclose consideration citation omitted courts appeals unanimously placed burden defendant demonstrate issue whose relitigation seeks foreclose actually decided first proceeding citron ragins gentile baugus mock hewitt lasky cert denied see reason depart majority rule case clue issues earlier case discussion prosecutor dowling attorney district judge took place district hearing admission henry testimony rule app arguing admission henry testimony dowling lawyer pointed dowling acquitted breaking henry home trial judge also presided dowling first trial recalled dowling acquitted issue identification prosecutor contended dowling disputed identity rather claimed robbery taken place christian allegedly merely came retrieve money individual house ibid made statement dowling presence house seriously contested case stated general defense dowling think took stand ibid number possible explanations jury acquittal verdict dowling first trial record stands nothing persuasively indicates question identity issue determined dowling favor prior trial oral argument dowling conceded much tr oral arg result even apply double jeopardy clause case conclude petitioner failed satisfy burden demonstrating first jury concluded one intruders henry home iii besides arguing introduction henry testimony violated double jeopardy clause petitioner also contends introduction evidence unconstitutional failed due process test fundamental fairness recognize introduction evidence circumstances like involved potential prejudice jury unfairly force defendant spend time money relitigating matters considered first trial question however whether acceptable deal potential abuse nonconstitutional sources like federal rules evidence whether introduction type evidence extremely unfair admission violates fundamental conceptions justice lovasco beyond specific guarantees enumerated bill rights due process clause limited operation therefore defined category infractions violate fundamental fairness narrowly observed lovasco supra judges free defining due process impose law enforcement officials personal private notions fairness disregard limits bind judges judicial function rochin california determine whether action complained violates fundamental conceptions justice lie base civil political institutions mooney holohan define community sense fair play decency rochin california supra petitioner lists four reasons according admission henry testimony fundamentally unfair first petitioner suggests evidence relating acquitted conduct inherently unreliable disagree jury case example remained free assess truthfulness significance henry testimony petitioner opportunity refute second dowling contends use type evidence creates constitutionally unacceptable risk jury convict defendant basis inferences drawn acquitted conduct believe trial authority exclude potentially prejudicial evidence adequately addresses possibility third petitioner claims exclusion acquitted conduct evidence furthers desirable goal consistent jury verdicts however find inconsistency dowling conviction first pennsylvania bank robbery acquittal charge robbing henry obvious reason jury verdict second trial entail judgment respect offenses charged first event inconsistent verdicts constitutionally tolerable see standefer fourth petitioner argues introduction henry testimony case contravenes tradition government may force person acquitted one trial defend accusation subsequent proceeding acknowledge tradition find amply protected double jeopardy clause decline use due process clause device extending double jeopardy protection cases otherwise extend iv conclude admission henry testimony constitutional appeals therefore applied correct standard affirm judgment appeals ordered footnotes clear record finding formed basis jury verdict see discussion infra part dowling notes party introducing evidence carries burden demonstrating evidence relevance argues duty context component double jeopardy clause requires government establish previous acquittal resolve question issue second trial disagree relevancy threshold inquiry burden introducing party establish relevancy also require introducing party anticipate rebut possible objections offered evidence dowling also suggests place burden government instance opposed situation ashe swenson example seek terminate prosecution merely hopes exclude evidence distinction without difference anything equities weigh direction case dowling faces risk introduction prejudicial evidence whereas ashe swenson defendant threatened illegitimate conviction third circuit noted found henry testimony inadmissible rule rule urges error affirming need pass validity appeals judgment respect justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens join dissenting petitioner trial bank robbery prosecutor introduced testimony vena henry petitioner attempted rob home approximately two weeks bank robbery petitioner however already tried connection incident acquitted burglary attempted robbery assault weapons offenses introduction testimony effectively forced petitioner defend charges already acquitted doctrine criminal collateral estoppel grounded double jeopardy clause prohibited government introducing testimony reverse judgment appeals third circuit remand consideration whether admission testimony harmless error standard enunciated chapman california therefore respectfully dissent law attaches particular significance acquittal difrancesco quoting scott core protection double jeopardy clause attaches acquittal prohibits retrial offense acquittal martin linen supply two offenses considered offense double jeopardy purposes unless offense requires proof fact blockburger acquittal greater lesser included offense example bars prosecution offense brown ohio protection applies even acquittal based egregiously erroneous foundation fong foo per curiam sanabria concerns clearly implicated defendant retried offense acquittal ashe swenson however significantly expanded protection defendant constitutionally entitled acquittal holding double jeopardy clause incorporates doctrine criminal collateral estoppel doctrine collateral estoppel means simply issue ultimate fact determined valid final judgment issue litigated parties future lawsuit criminal case collateral estoppel prohibits government relitigating ultimate facts resolved defendant favor prior acquittal thus addition protected retrial offense defendant protected prosecution offense requires proof fact found favor prior proceeding question case whether criminal doctrine apply government seeks introduce subsequent trial evidence relating another criminal offense defendant acquitted jury consider facts relating another criminal offense proof element presently charged offense jury must conclude preponderance evidence act occurred defendant actor huddleston extent prior acquittal offense determined either factual issues defendant favor introduction evidence imposes defendant burden relitigating facts thereby increases likelihood erroneous conviction charged offense thus extend doctrine preclude government introducing evidence relies facts previously determined defendant favor acquittal refuses apply doctrine case two reasons first asserts petitioner failed carry burden proving issue sought foreclose relitigation decided favor first acquittal importantly refuses apply doctrine facts underlying prior acquittal used evidence another offense conclusions inconsistent purposes rule first asserts petitioner prove issue sought foreclose relitigation actually decided first proceeding ante summary conclusion defendant bear burden proof invoking doctrine fails serve purposes doctrine double jeopardy clause general since doctrine serves protect defendants governmental overreaching government bear burden proving issue seeks relitigate decided defendant favor prior acquittal noted ashe criminal verdicts general verdicts usually difficult determine precise route jury reasoning basis verdict rests see putting burden defendant prove issues actually decided essentially denies protection collateral estoppel defendants affirmatively contest one issue put government burden proof respect elements offense result inconsistent admonition ashe excessively technical approach collateral estoppel course simply amount rejection rule collateral estoppel criminal proceedings least every case first judgment based upon general verdict acquittal ibid indeed forcing defendants choose forgoing protections double jeopardy clause abandoning defense general denial raises grave due process concerns even assuming petitioner properly required bear burden proof conclude petitioner carried case vena henry testified petitioner entered home wearing mask carrying gun struggle pulled mask ran away every reason believe jury rested verdict belief petitioner present henry home petitioner charged wide array offenses relating henry incident conclusion rationally conceivable example jury acquitted petitioner attempted robbery lacked requisite intent still found guilty weapons offense neither comments trial judge trial petitioner seriously contested issue identity henry trial stated general defense app prosecutor statement case petitioner codefendant henry trial admitted house provides sufficient basis conclude issue identity resolved petitioner favor acquittal thus collateral estoppel applies evidentiary use facts government allowed introduce henry testimony holds however collateral estoppel apply facts previously found defendant favor later introduced evidence second offense excepts normal rule criminal collateral estoppel situations jury consider facts lower standard proof second proceeding first trial endorses exception without consideration purposes underlying doctrine surprising holding reflects unrealistic view risks burdens imposed defendant facts relating prior offense acquitted introduced subsequent criminal proceeding notes held acquittal criminal case bar subsequent civil forfeiture actions transaction acquittal merely proves existence reasonable doubt defendant guilt one assortment firearms see also one lot emerald cut stones helvering mitchell however forfeiture cases involved civil remedial measures rather criminal punishment firearms supra helvering supra never applied reasoning successive criminal prosecution government seeks punish defendant hinges punishment least part criminal act defendant acquitted indeed ashe indicated contrary much late suggest collateral estoppel fully applicable former judgment criminal case judgment may reflect belief government met higher burden proof exacted cases government evidence whole quoting kramer always recognized distinction governmental action intended punish see halper double jeopardy clause implicated civil fine punitive salerno upholding bail reform act regulatory rather punitive measure thus consistent hold doctrine applies criminal context civil government seeks punish defendant concern fairness much acute whenever defendant forced relitigate facts underlying prior offense acquitted risk jury erroneously decide guilty offense risk heightened jury required conclude defendant committed prior offense preponderance evidence cf winship standard prime instrument reducing risk convictions resting factual error fact prior offense used evidence presently charged offense raises concerns reliability jury ultimate conclusion defendant committed presently charged offense concerns stem large part inherent danger evidence relating extrinsic criminal offense first ne dangers inherent admission extrinsic offense evidence jury may convict defendant offense charged extrinsic offense danger particularly great extrinsic activity subject conviction jury may feel defendant punished activity even guilty offense charged beechum en banc citations omitted alternatively danger evidence may lead jury conclude committed crime type charged defendant likely repeat ibid thus fact defendant forced relitigate participation prior criminal offense low standard proof combined inherently prejudicial nature evidence increases risk jury erroneously convict defendant presently charged offense response defendant free introduce evidence rebut contention committed prior offense response course underscores flaw reasoning introduction type evidence requires defendant mount second defense offense acquitted facts relating prior offense used evidence another crime reduce burden defendant still required defend prior charges moreover significance jury may place evidence prior criminal offense presenting defense offense may burdensome defending presently charged offense finally since lower standard proof makes easier jury conclude defendant committed prior offense defendant essentially forced present affirmative evidence rebut contention committed offense today adds powerful new weapon government arsenal ability relitigate facts relating offense defendant acquitted benefits government many situations defendant able present second defense passage time expense factor indeed discernible limit rule defendant forced relitigate facts trial trial moreover reasoning appears extend even facts case seems allow prosecutor rely prior criminal offense despite acquittal evidence trial offense part transaction prior offense example prosecutor introduce facts relating substantive offense evidence trial conspiracy even though defendant acquitted substantive offense cf ashe question whether collateral estoppel constitutional requirement little concern modern statutes gave prosecutors ability spin startingly numerous series offenses single alleged criminal transaction indeed reasoning apply even broadly justify introduction evidence prior offense defendant acquitted order enhance defendant sentence sentencing scheme requires proof less reasonable doubt see mcmillan pennsylvania upholding constitutionality sentencing scheme requiring proof additional facts preponderance evidence ignoring principles upon doctrine based possible tip scales far prosecution favor ii holding today deprives acquitted defendant rightful end blight suspicious aura surround accusation guilty specific crime wingate wainwright holding based hypertechnical view acquittal reflects naive view defendant burden criminal trial respectfully dissent cases often refer situation collateral estoppel respect evidentiary fact order distinguish situation present ashe swenson see keller ashe prior acquittal determined facts necessary element second offense since issue identity determined trial robbery one victim collateral estoppel precluded prosecution robbery second victim situation contrast previously litigated facts introduced evidence element another offense fact case acquittal alone sufficient estop government introducing henry evidence henry testimony introduced direct proof circumstantial evidence petitioner also masked bank robber mask worn intruder henry home mask worn bank robber app thus jury invited infer fact petitioner allegedly worn different mask carried gun masked bank robber jury instructed consider testimony extent helps determining identity person committed bank robbery dowling found guilty crime robbery connection nothing instructions ensured jury consider fact petitioner worn mask carried gun prior attempted robbery evidence petitioner masked bank robber since acquittal least determined petitioner committed attempted robbery acquittal enough preclude government asking jury draw inference government cites standefer support argument doctrine collateral estoppel apply evidentiary use facts standefer held defendant invoke acquittal principal bar prosecution accomplice although noted collateral estoppel applied sparingly government id defendant standefer yet tried thus concerns protect defendant relitigation implicated concerns implicated outweigh need apply collateral estoppel cautiously government higher standard employed criminal context ensure accuracy convictions thereby protect defendants permit introduction evidence crimes defendant acquitted winship definition government fails prove defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt defendant considered legally innocent unlike majority believe least respect subsequent criminal prosecutions acquitted defendant treated innocent interests fairness finality made answer alleged crime state wakefield ironic petitioner better second trial represented counsel first trial convicted uncounselled convictions may used capacity subsequent trials see loper beto impeachment tucker sentencing enhancement burgett texas substantive evidence fact trial judge may instruct jury defendant acquitted sufficiently protect defendant need present evidence guarantee jury give weight acquittal jury may disregard even conclude first jury made mistake