Justices rule against Puerto Rico in fight over criminal law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court today ruled against Puerto Rico in a politically charged dispute over the island's power to enforce its own criminal laws.

The justices ruled 6-2 that the U.S. territory can't prosecute people for local crimes if they've already been convicted of similar charges in federal court.

The ruling helps clarify the island's legal status at a time when the issue has caused deep divisions between officials from the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The court sided with two men who said the principle of double jeopardy prevented Puerto Rico officials from prosecuting them on weapons charges after they had already pleaded guilty to federal charges for the same offense.

Puerto Rico officials had argued the island could still bring charges under its own laws – something that the 50 states have power to do under the principle of state sovereignty.

Writing for the court, Justice Elena Kagan said Congress remains the "ultimate source" of the island's legal power even though Puerto Rico has its own constitution.

"Put simply, Congress conferred the authority to create the Puerto Rico constitution, which in turn confers the authority to bring criminal charges," Justice Kagan said. "That makes Congress the original source of power for Puerto Rico's prosecutors – as it is for the federal government's. The island's constitution, significant though it is, does not break the chain."

The case involves Luis Sanchez Valle and James Gomez Vazquez, who pleaded guilty in federal court to selling illegal firearms. When Puerto Rican officials later charged them under local laws, they moved to dismiss the charges on double-jeopardy grounds.