What is the doctrine of res judicata in criminal appeals?

The doctrine of res judicata in criminal appeals is a legal concept that states that a final decision made in a criminal case cannot be appealed or litigated a second time. This prevents the same criminal defendant from being tried or sentenced twice for the same offense. In California, when a criminal defendant is convicted, they can file an appeal to a higher court, challenging their conviction. Res judicata prevents the defendant from alleging the same facts for which an appeal was previously denied. This protects the criminal justice system from being bogged down with redundant appeals from defendants who have already had their criminal case adjudicated. Res judicata can also apply to plea bargains. If a defendant agrees to plead guilty, they cannot later appeal or file pro-se relief from judgement that challenges the facts or accusations of their plea bargain. If a criminal defendant is found to be in violation of their plea agreement, the doctrine of res judicata prevents them from appealing the conviction. The doctrine of res judicata is an important tool in the criminal justice system because it allows the wheels of justice to move forward without continually being bogged down by unnecessary appeals. By preventing the same facts of a criminal case from being reargued or litigated a second time, res judicata helps speed up the process and leads to a more efficient criminal justice system.

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What is the doctrine of res judicata in criminal appeals?

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