The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Puerto Rico is not a sovereign entity—like U.S. states or Native American tribes—for the purposes of criminal law. In a case of double jeopardy, the high court found that the defendant could not be tried both under Puerto Rican law and under U.S. federal law, because Puerto Rico ultimately derives its authority from the U.S. government. The court emphasized it was not ruling on Puerto Rico’s ultimate status, or on anything having to do with its debt obligations, but the case will still likely be seen as a blow against Puerto Rico’s autonomy.
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