Off on a Technicality: Difference between revisions
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* The Scopes "[[wikipedia:Scopes Trial|Monkey Trial]]", over the teaching of evolution in schools. Scopes's conviction was set aside on appeal: The Butler Act, forbidding teaching of evolution, carried a mandatory fine of $100, which is what Scopes had been fined when convicted. However, Tennessee law of the time forbade judges from setting fines above $50, rendering the judgment invalid.
* An infamous political example: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." A US President (Clinton) lying under oath is clear grounds for impeachment, but because [[Spock Speak|the agreed-on legal wording during the deposition for "sexual relations" did not include oral sex]], that charge failed. The joke at the time was "this is how you [[A Worldwide Punomenon|get off]] on a technicality". (Clinton ''was'' impeached for obstructing justice and a separate perjury charge, but acquitted by the US Senate).
** The press conference quote is not what he was charged with perjury
* Very often, technicalities (for example, improperly collected evidence or confessions) will result in a retrial with said data excluded, not a defendant "getting off scot-free". Ernesto Miranda himself was convicted on retrial, and went to prison.
* The Teapot Dome scandal is remarkable in that one man was convicted of bribing the US Secretary of the Interior, while in a separate trial the Secretary of the Interior was acquitted on charges of receiving bribes.
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