SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 17, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 01 3 . YORK v . THE STATE.

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri a l

, A b d ur Raas hi d y d Yo rk was co n v ict ed o f b u rg l ary

(OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (a) (2 0 1 1 )). Yo rk ap peal s fro m th e d en i al of h i s m o t io n fo r n ew

t ri al

, co n t en d in g th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in ad m i t t i n g ev i d en ce o f o th er cri m es at h i s

t ri al u n der OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 4 (b ), an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g h i s m o t i o n

t o di s m i s s b as ed o n co ns t i t ut i o n al s p eed y tri al g ro u n d s

. Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w,

we affi rm t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f o t h er act s ev i d en ce 1 an d vacat e t h e d en i al o f

Yo rk ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m is s an d rem an d t h i s cas e b ack t o t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h di rect i o n.

1 Fo r p u rp o s es o f o u r a n a l ys i s u nd er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ), we u s e t h e t erm

“ o t her act s ” t o i n cl u d e “ o t h er cri m es

, w ro n g s, o r act s” as set fo rt h in t h e st at u t e. See

S t a t e v. Jo n es , 2 9 7 Ga. 1 5 6

, 1 5 8 (1 ), n .1 (7 7 3 SE2 d 1 7 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab le to t h e verd i ct

, 2 t h e ev i d en ce

s h o ws th at o n t h e earl y m orn i n g o f Ap ri l 2 7

, 2 0 1 1

, K r i s ti n a Crai g d ro v e Yo rk an d

Dav id Ro b in s on fro m At l an t a to Bu fo rd i n Gwi n n et t Co u n t y

. Crai g d ro pp ed o ff Yo rk

an d Ro bi n so n n e a r a g as s t at i o n

, an d Yo rk an d Ro bi ns o n were carry i n g b o o k b ag s

wh en t h ey l eft

. W h en Yo rk an d Ro b i n s o n ret u rn ed to t h e v eh i cl e, t h ey were weari n g

g l o v es an d t h ey

d i s cu ss ed h av i n g t o s el l s o m e ci g aret t es

.

A few h o urs l at er, t h e o wn er o f a Ch ev ro n g as s t at i o n i n Bu fo rd arri v ed at wo rk

t o fi nd th at t h e fro n t gl as s d o or h ad b een s h at t ered

. Th e o w n er o b s erv ed t h at s ev eral

i t em s

, i n cl ud i n g ci g aret t es

, p h o n e card s

, an d a b l u e b an k bag co nt ai n i n g recei pt s

,

were m is s i ng . Th e g as s t at io n o wn er cal l ed 9 1 1 an d rel ay ed h is o b s erv at i o n s

.

At t ri al

, t h e t ri al co urt

, o v e r Y o r k ’s o bject i o n

, al l o wed t he St at e t o in t ro d uce

o t h er act s ev id en ce s h o wi n g t h at Yo r k

, R o b i n s on

, an d Crai g b urg l ari zed t wo

co n ven i en ce s t o res i n Fo rs y t h Co un t y on Ap ri l 2 8

, 2 01 1

. 3 Sp eci fi cal ly

, Yo rk an d

Ro b i ns o n en t ered t h e fi rs t co n v en i en ce s t o re b y b reak i ng t he g l as s fro n t do o r, an d

en t ered t h e s eco n d co n v en i en ce s t o r e i n a s i m i l ar m an n er. Sh ort l y aft er res p o n d i n g

2 See Th o ma s v. S t at e , 2 96 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 1

, 2 3 2 (6 74 SE2 d 9 6 ) (2 0 09 ).

3 Crai g p led g u i l t y t o t wo co u n t s o f b u rg l ary ari s i n g o u t o f t h e Ap r i l 2 8

i n ci d en t s i n Fo rs y t h Co u n t y

.

2t o t h e al arm cal l s

, Fo rs y t h Co u n t y dep u t y sh eri ffs s to p p ed Crai g ’ s v eh icl e, i n wh i ch

Yo rk an d Ro b i n so n were p as sen g ers

, b ecau se i t was t h e o nl y v eh i cl e i n t he area at t h e

t i m e o f th e b u rg l ari es

. Th e d e p u t y s h eri ffs co n d uct ed a search p u rs u an t t o Crai g ’ s

co n sen t an d u nco v ered a p ry -b ar, b ack p ack s

, g l o v es

, ro l l ed an d l o o s e co i n s

, an d

m erch an d i s e, i n cl u di ng cart on s o f ci g aret t e s

, b e lo n g i n g t o t h e b u rg l ari zed

co n ven i en ce s t o res

. Th e d ep u t y s h eri ffs al so fo u n d a b l u e b an k b ag o n t h e fl o o rb o ard

wh ere Yo rk h ad b een s i tt i n g

.

T h e F o r s yt h Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce t u rn ed o v er t h e bl u e ban k b ag t o t h e

Gwi n n et t Co u nt y Po l i ce Dep art m en t

, an d a Gwi nn et t Co u nt y p o l i c e d et ect i v e t o o k

t h e b ag t o t h e o wn er o f t h e g as s t at i o n t h at was bu rg l ari zed o n Ap ri l 2 7

. Th e g as

s t at i o n o wn er t e s t i f

i ed at t ri al an d i d en t i fi ed t h e b l u e b an k b ag an d it s co n t en t s as

h av in g b een t ak en fro m

h i s s to re.

1

. On ap p eal

, Yo rk co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g o t h er act s

ev i d en ce s ho wi n g t h at he b u r g l ari zed t wo Fo rs y t h Co u n t y co n v en i en ce s t o res

. W e

d i s cern n o erro r. 4

4 Si n ce Yo rk ’s t r i al was h el d aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 0 13

, Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce

Co d e g ov ern s th is co nt en t i o n

. See B r a ds h a w v. S t at e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 6 5 0

, 6 55 (3 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d

8 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

3Un d er OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 4 (b ),

[e] v i d en ce o f o t h e r cri m es

, wro ng s

, or act s s h al l n o t b e ad m i s s i bl e t o

p ro v e t h e ch aract er o f a p ers o n i n o rd er to s h o w a ct i o n in co n fo rm i t y

t h erewi th

. It m ay

, h o wev er, b e ad m i s s ib l e fo r o t h er p urp o s es

, i n cl ud i n g

, b u t n o t l im i te d t o

, p ro o f of m o t i v e, o p p o rt u n i t y

, i nt en t

, p rep arat i o n

, p l an

, k n o wl ed g e, i d en t i t y , o r ab s en ce o f m i st ak e o r acci den t

.

M o reo v er, u n d er O CGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 3

, “ [r] el ev an t e v i d e n c e m ay b e ex cl u ded i f i t s

p ro b at i v e v al u e i s s u bs t an t i al l y o ut wei g h ed b y t h e d an g er o f u n fai r p reju d i ce,

co n fu s i o n o f t h e i s s u es

, or m i s l ead i n g t h e ju ry o r b y co n s i d erat i o n s o f u n d u e d el ay

,

was te o f t i m e, o r n eed les s p res en t at i o n o f cu m u l a t i v e ev i d en ce.” Th es e p ro v i s i on s

t rack t h ei r fed eral co u n terp art s. See Ru l es 40 3 an d 4 0 4 (b ) o f t h e F e d e r al Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce. Fo r t h i s reas o n, i n d et erm i n i n g t h e ad m i s s i b il i ty o f ev id en ce o f o t h er act s

u n d er o u r o wn Ru les 40 3 an d 4 0 4 (b ), G eo rg i a ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e ad op t ed t h e s am e

t h ree-p a r t t es t u s ed b y t h e E l ev en t h Ci rcu i t Co u rt o f Ap p eal s fo r d et erm i n i n g t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f o t h er act s e v id en ce u n d er t h e fed eral ru l es

. See Br a ds h a w v. S t a t e

,

2 9 6 Ga. 6 5 0

, 6 5 6 (3 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 8 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Un d er t h at t h ree-p art t es t

, t h e St at e m u s t s h o w t h at : (1 ) ev id en ce o f ex t ri n s i c,

o r o t h er

, a ct s i s rel ev an t t o an i s s u e ot h er t h an a defen d an t ’ s ch aract er; (2 ) t h e

p ro b at i v e v al u e of t he o t her act s ev id en ce is n o t s ub s tan t ial l y ou t wei g h ed b y i t s u n d u e

p reju d i ce; an d (3 ) t h ere i s su ffi ci en t p r o o f s o t h at t h e ju ry co u l d fi n d t h at t h e

4d efen d an t co m m i t t ed t h e act i n q u es t io n

. See Br a ds h aw , s u pra, 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 5 6 (3 ) .

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i on t o ad m i t ev i d en ce o f o t h er act s i s rev i ewed o n ap p eal fo r a

cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n . Id . at 6 5 7 (3 ).

Here, Yo rk o nl y ch al l en ges t h e s eco n d p ro n g o f t h e t hree-p art t es t

, arg u i n g t h at

t h e u n d u e p reju d i ce fro m ad m it t i n g ev i d en ce o f t h e two Fo rs y t h Co u n t y b u rg l ari es

s u b s t an t i al l y o u t wei g h ed t h ei r p ro bat i v e v al u e. Hi s cl ai m h as n o m eri t

, b ecau s e t h e

Fo rs y t h Co u n t y bu rg l ari es were fact u al ly s im i l ar t o t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e, as al l t h ree

b u rg lari es targ et ed co n v en ien ce s t ores an d i n each cas e en try was m ad e b y b reak i n g

t h e g l as s fro n t d o o r. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e was i n cl o se t em p o ral

p ro x im it y t o t he o t h er act s

, as t h e ch arg ed o ff e n s e o c c u r red o n e d ay b efo re t h e

Fo rs y t h Co u n ty b u rg l ari es

, an d ev i d en ce rec o v e r e d fro m th e Fo rs y t h Co u n t y

b u rg lari es

, i .e., t h e b l u e b an k bag

, co nn ect ed t h e o t her act s t o t h e ch arg ed o ffen s e.

I n l i g h t o f t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we co ncl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n ad m i t t i ng ev i d en ce o f t h e Fo rs y th Co u n t y b u rg l ari es

. See Br a d s h a w

,

s u p ra, 2 9 6 Ga. at 65 7-6 58 (3 ) (p ro v i d i n g t h at wh et her t h e p ro b at i v e v al u e of t h e o t h er

act s ev i d en ce i s s u b st a n t i a l l y o ut wei g h ed b y i t s u n fai r p reju di ce cal l s fo r a

d i s cret i o n ary d et erm i n at i o n i n wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt ex erci s es “ a c o m m on s en s e

as s es s m en t o f al l t he ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro un d i n g t h e ex tri n si c o ffen s e, i n cl u d i n g

5p ro s ecu to r i a l need

, ov eral l s i m i l ari t y b et ween t h e ex t ri n s i c act an d t h e ch arg ed

o ffen s e, as wel l as t em

po ral rem o t en es s .”) (ci t at io n an d punc tua tion om i t t ed ); s ee al s o

U n i t e d S t a t es v. S

a n d er s

, 6 6 8 F3 d 1 2 9 8, 13 1 4 (III) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ) (Fed er a l

Ru l es o f E v i d en ce 40 4 (b ) is a ru l e o f i n cl u s i o n al l o wi n g “ ex t ri ns i c ev i d en ce u n l es s

i t ten d s t o p ro v e o n l

y cri m i nal p ro p en s i t y ”) (em ph as i s s u p p l ied ).

2

. Y o rk co nt en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g hi s m o t i o n to di s m i s s o n

co n st i t u t io n al s p e e d y t ri al g ro u n d s

. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed to

ad eq uat el y ad d res s Yo rk ’ s cl ai m an d

, fo r t h i s reas on

, we v acat e t h e d en i al of Yo rk ’ s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s an d rem an d t h e cas e.

W h en co n s i d eri n g a m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s o n s p eed y tri al g ro u n d s

, t h e t ri al co u rt

m u st co n d u ct a t wo -p art tes t as set fo rt h i n th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt d eci s i on s

i n Ba r ker v. W i ng o

, 4 0 7 U

. S

. 5 1 4

, 5 30 (9 2 SCt 2 1 8 2, 3 3 L Ed 2d 10 1 ) (1 97 2 ), an d

Do g g et t v. Un i t ed S t a tes

, 5 05 U

. S. 6 4 7

, 6 5 1-6 5 2 (1 1 2 SCt 26 8 6

, 1 2 0 L E d 2 d 5 2 0 )

(1 9 9 2). See S t ewa r t v. S t a te

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 1, 55 2 -5 5 3 (7 1 3 SE2 d 7 08 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

Fi rs t

, t h e t ri al co u rt m

u s t d et erm i n e wh et her t h e i n terv al fro m t he d efen d an t ’ s arres t

,

i n d i ct m en t

, o r o t h er fo rm a l a c cu s at i o n t o t ri al i s s u ffi ci en t l y l o n g t o b e co n s i d ered

“ p res u m p t i v el y p reju di ci al

. ” (Ci t at io n s o m i t t ed .) S t ewa r t

, sup ra, 31 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 2.

If t h e d el ay i s p res u m

p t i v el y p reju d i ci al

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t t h en det erm in e wh et h er

6t h e d efen d an t h as b een d ep ri v ed o f h i s ri g h t t o a sp eed y t ri al b y an al y zi n g a fo u r-p art

b al an ci n g t es t th at co n s i d ers (1 ) t h e l en g t h o f t he d el ay

, (2 ) t h e reas on fo r t he d el ay

,

(3 ) t h e d e f

e n d a n t ’ s as s ert io n o f t h e ri g h t t o a s peed y t ri al

, an d (4 ) p reju d i ce t o t h e

d efen d an t . Id . at 5 5 3

.

In rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s res o l u t i o n of a s p eed y t ri al cl ai m

, w e m u s t accep t

t h e co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s o f fact if t h e reco rd co n t ai n s an y ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt t h em

, an d

we wi l l d efer to t he t ri a l co u rt ’ s “ u l t i m at e co n cl u s io n

. . . un l es s i t am ou n t s t o an

ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

, ev en th o u g h we m i g ht h av e reach ed a d ifferen t co n cl u si o n were

t h e i s s u e co m

m i tt ed t o o ur d i s cret i on .” S t a t e v. Bu ckn er

, 2 9 2 Ga. 3 90

, 3 9 1 (7 3 8 SE2 d

6 5 ) (2 0 1 3 )

. “ [ T]h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er m u s t p ro v i d e s uffi ci en t fi n d i n g s of fact an d

co n cl u s i o n s o f law t o p erm i t t h i s C o u r t t o d et erm i ne i f t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

ex erci s ed i t s di scret i o n u n d er t h e B a r ker [ -Do g get t ] an al y s i s .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

S t a t e v. Po r t er , 2 8 8 Ga. 5 2 4 , 5 2 6 (2 ) (a) (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 3 6) (2 01 1 ).

(a) Pres um pti ve Prejudi ce

.

“ Th e p ret ri al d el ay i s m eas u red fro m t he accu s ed ’ s arres t

, i n d i ct m en t

, o r o t h er

fo rm al accu s at i o n

, wh i ch ev er co m es fi rs t

, t o t he t ri al o r, i f th e accu s ed fi l es a m o t i o n

t o d i sm i s s t h e i n d i ct m en t

, u n t i l t h e t ri al co u rt d en ies t h e m o t i o n.” (Ci t at i o n an d

7p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) S t a t e v. Cu r r y

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 1

, 6 1 3 (2 ) (a) (7 3 2 SE2 d 4 5 9 )

(2 0 1 2).

T h e i n d i ct m en t i n t h is cas e was ret u rn ed i n Sep t em b er 2 0 11

, an d Yo rk w a s

arres t ed o n t he ch arg ed o ffen s es i n M ay 2 01 3

. Th e t ri al co urt ru l ed o n Yo rk ’ s m o t i o n

t o d i s m i s s i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 4

. Th e 3 1

- m o n t h d e l ay b et ween t h e ret u rn o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

an d th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er w as p res u m p t i v el y p reju d i ci al

. See Di t ma n v. S ta t e

, 3 0 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 8 7

, 1 8 9 (1 ) (6 8 7 SE2 d 1 5 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (p ret ri al d el ay e x c eed i n g 1 2 m o n t h s i s

p r e s u m p t i v el y p reju di ci al ). T h erefo re, we wi l l p ro ceed t o rev i ew t he t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng s wi t h res p ect t o t h e s eco n d s t ag e o f t h e Ba r ker -Do g get t an al y s i s

.

(b ) Ba rk er -Do

g g et t Ba la nci ng Tes t

.

W i t h reg ard t o t he b al an ci n g t es t

,

[n ] o o n e fact o r i s ei t h er a n eces s ary o r s u ffi ci en t co n d i t i o n t o t he fi n d i n g

o f a d ep ri v at i o n o f t h e ri g h t of s p eed y t ri al

. Th e fo u r fact o rs em p h as ized

i n Ba r ker an d D o g

g et t d o n o t co n s t i tu t e an ex h au s t i v e l i s t; t h ey h av e n o

t al i s m an i c q u al i t i es an d m u s t b e co n s i d e r ed t o g et h er wi t h su ch o t h er

ci rcu m s t an ces as m ay b e rel ev an t g iv en t h e an i m at i ng p ri n ci p l es b eh i n d

t h e s p eed y

t ri al g u aran t ee. Th u s

, t h e s eco nd s t ag e o f t h e co n s t i t u t i o nal

s p eed y t ri al an al y s i s req u i res co u rt s to en gag e i n a d i ffi cu l t an d s en s i t iv e

ba la nc i ng pr oces s an d n eces s ari l y co m p el s t h em t o ap p ro ach s peed y t r ia l

cas es o n an ad h o c b as i s

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) Ru f f i n v. S t a te

, 2 8 4 G a. 5 2, 5 5 -5 6 (2 ) (b ) (6 6 3

SE2 d 1 8 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Th i s Co u rt i s n o t p erm i t ted t o wei g h t h e Ba r ker -Do gg et t fact o rs

8i n t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce wh ere t h e t ri al co u rt h as fai l ed t o do s o

. See S t a t e v. Pi cket t

, 2 8 8

Ga. 6 7 4

, 6 7 9 -6 8 0 (2 ) ( d ) ( 7 0 6 S E 2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, we l o o k t o t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er i n t h i s cas e an d ex am i n e each fact or i n t u rn

.

(i ) Leng th o f the del a y

.

It i s i m po rt an t t h at t ri al co u rt s n o t li m i t t h ei r co ns i d erat i o n of th e

l en g th i n es s o f t h e p ret ri al d el ay to t h e t h res h o l d q u es ti o n o f p res u m p t iv e

p r e ju d ice an d rem em

b er t o co u n t it ag ai n as o n e of fo u r cri t eri a t o b e

wei g h e d i n t h e b al an ci n g p ro ces s at t h e s eco n d st ag e of t h e Ba r ker

Do g get t an al y s i s

. Th i s i s b ecau s e u n c o m m o n l y l o n g del ay s h av e a

t en d en cy t o co m

pro m i s e t h e rel i ab i l it y o f t ri al s in way s t h at n ei t h er p art y

can p ro v e o r, fo r t h at m at t er, i d en t i fy

. As a res u l t , t h e wei g h t acco rd ed

t h e o t h er fact o rs i n t h e b al an ci n g t es t d ep en ds

, t o a l arg e d eg ree, o n th e

l en g th o f t h e d el ay

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ha yes v. S t a t e

, 29 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 38

, 3 4 1 (2 ) (a)

(6 8 0 SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

Here, t h e t ri al co u rt l i s ted t h e l en g t h o f a d el ay as a s e p arat e fact o r an d

co n cl u d ed t h at “ th e d i s p o s i t i on o f t h i s cas e has n o t b een t i m el y ” an d cau s ed p reju d i ce

t o th e d efen d an t

. Th i s, ho wev er, i s m erel y a reh as h o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at t h e

d el ay was p res u m

p t iv el y p reju d i ci al

. Th ere i s no t h i n g i n th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

i n d i cat i n g t h at i t co n s i d ered wh et h er t h e p ret ri al d el ay was u n co m m o nl y l o n g g i v en

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e cas e. “ To t h e ex t en t t h e t ri al co u rt o verl o o k ed t h i s fact o r in

t h e fo u r-fact or b al an ci ng p ro ces s , i t erred .” R u f fi n , s u p ra, 2 8 4 Ga. at 5 9 (2 ) (b ) (i ).

9(i i) Rea s o ns fo r the del a y

.

Th e s eco nd Ba r

k e r -Do g g et t fact o r req u i res t ri al co u rt s t o an al y ze “ b o t h t h e

reas on fo r t h e d el ay an d wh et h er t h i s is at t ri b u t ab l e t o t h e d efen dan t o r t h e [S] t at e.”

(Ci t at i o n a n d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ha yes

, s up ra, 29 8 Ga. Ap p. at 3 4 1 (2 ) (b ). In

ev al u at i ng t h e reas o n s fo r t h e d el ay

, co u rt s are req u i red to “ as s i g n [] v ari o u s d eg rees

o f wei g h t t o t h e d i ffe r e n t r e a s o n s p ro vi d ed by th e p ro s ecu t i o n an d t h e d efen s e

res p ect i vel y .” La

yma n v. S t a t e , 2 8 4 Ga. 8 3 , 8 5 (6 6 3 SE2 d 1 6 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ). Th e s eco n d

Ba r ker -Do g g et t fact o r i s “ pi v o t al i n ev al u at i n g t h e st ren g t h o f a co n s t i t u ti o n al s p eed y

t ri al cl ai m

, as i t can co l o r t h e co n s i d erat i o n o f al l o t h er fact o rs .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ph a n v. S t a t e , 2 9 0 Ga. 5 88 , 5 9 3 (1 ) (b ) (7 23 SE2 d 8 7 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

In i t s o rd er den y i n g Yo rk ’ s m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s

, t h e tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Yo rk ’ s

cas e was d el ay ed d u e t o an o v ercro wd ed do ck et

, b ecau s e t hree d i fferen t p ro s ecu t o rs

h ad b een as s i g n ed t o t h e cas e, an d b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt effect i v el y s t ay ed t h e cas e

p en di n g res o l u t i on o f Yo rk ’ s Fo rs y t h Co u n t y cas e. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o n o t ed t h at t h e

cas e w as co n t i n u ed fo r fo u r co n s ecu t i v e m o nt h s at t h e St at e’ s req ues t b ecau s e cert ai n

wi t n es s es were u n av ai l ab l e, ev en t h o u gh th ere i s ev i d en ce th at Y o rk o b j ect ed t o at

l eas t t hree m o n t h s o f th at co n ti n u an ce. Th e t ri al co u rt al so co ncl u d ed t hat at l eas t t wo

m o nt h s of t h e del ay

were at t ri b u t ab l e t o Yo rk b ecau se h i s t ri al co u n s el was g ran t ed

10a l eav e o f ab s en ce, an d t h at an u n s p eci fi ed p eri o d o f d el ay was d u e to Y o r k ’s

at t em p t s t o o b t ai n t h e t ran s cri p t o f h i s Fo rs y th Co u n t y t ri al

.

Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s an al y s i s o n t h e s eco n d Ba r ker -Do g g et t fact o r i s i n co m

p l et e.

Fi rs t

, t he t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e d el ay b et w een th e ret u rn of t h e i n d i ct m en t

i n Sep t em b er 2 0 11 an d t h e fi rs t cal l t o tri al i n M arch 2 0 1 2

, an d t h ere i s n o ap p aren t

reas on fo r t h i s d el ay

. “ [W ] h en t h ere i s n o ap p aren t reas o n fo r a d el ay

, we m u s t t reat

t h e d el ay as cau s ed by t h e neg l i g en ce o f t h e St at e i n b r i n g i n g t h e cas e t o t ri al .”

(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed .) Go d

d a r d v. S t a t e

, 3 15 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 8

, 8 7 2 (2 ) (b ) (7 2 9 SE2 d 3 9 7 )

(2 0 1 2).

Nex t

, al t h o ug h t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered t h e d el ay aft er t he cas e was i n i t i al l y

cal l ed i n M arch 2 0 1 2, an d co ncl u ded t h at t h e St at e an d Yo rk were b o t h res p o n s i b l e

fo r t h e d el ay aft er t hi s dat e, i t erred becau s e i t fai l ed t o d et erm i n e w h et h er t h i s fact o r

was n eu t ral o r wh et h er o n e p art y was m o re res p o n s i bl e fo r t he d el ay

, an d i t fai l ed to

as s i g n wei g h ts t o t h e d i fferen t del ay s

. 5 See Cu lb r ea t h v. S t a te

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 3

, 1 6 1

5 Of t h e 3 1 m o n t h s of p ret ri al d el ay

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d Yo rk res p o n s i b l e fo r

t wo m o n t h s o f d el ay du e t o t ri al co u ns el ’ s ab s en ce. Al t h o u gh th e t ri al co u rt al s o h el d

Yo rk res p o n s i b l e fo r an u ns p eci fi ed am o u nt o f t i m e wh i l e h e at t em p t ed t o g et t h e t ri al

t ran s cri p t fro m

h i s Fo rs y t h Co u n t y cas e, t h e t ri al co urt n o t ed

, an d o u r rev i ew o f t h e

reco rd co n fi rm s

, t h at t h e ev i d en ce o n t h i s m at t er i s u n cl ear. Al t h o u g h t h i s C o u rt

can n ot m ak e s u ch fact u al fi n di n g s o r as i g n b lam e i n t h e fi rs t i n s t a n ce, we n o t e t h at

t h e m ajo ri t y o f t he del ay ap p ears t o b e at t ri b u t ab l e t o t h e St at e b as ed o n o v ercro wd ed

11(4 ) (b ) (i i ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 57 ) (2 0 1 4 ) ; Tea sl ey v. St a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 3

, 1 6 0 (2 ) (b )

(7 0 4 SE2 d 2 4 8 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

(i ii ) As s erti o n o f the ri g ht to a s peedy tri a l

.

“ Th e rel ev an t q u es t i o n fo r p u rp os es o f t h e th i rd Ba r ker -Do gg et t fact o r i s

wh et h er t h e accu s ed h as as s ert ed t he ri g h t t o a s p ee d y t ri al in d u e co u rs e.”

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed .) Ru f f i n , s u p ra, 2 8 4 Ga. at 6 3 (2 ) (b ) (i i i ).

Here, Y o rk was i n d i ct ed i n Sep t em b er 2 0 1 1

, an d h e fi l ed h i s m o ti o n t o d i s m i ss

o n co n s t i t u t i o n al sp eed y t ri al g ro u n d s i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 4

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in

co n cl u d in g t hat Yo rk ’ s fai l u re t o as s ert h i s s p eed y t ri al cl ai m fo r m o re t h an t wo y ears

wei g h ed heav i l y ag ai n s t h i m

. See Br own v. S t a t e

, 2 8 7 Ga. 8 92

, 8 9 6 (2 ) (c) (7 0 0 SE2 d

4 0 7 ) (2 0 10 ) (d efen d an t ’ s t wo -y ear d el ay i n as sert i n g ri g h t t o s p eed y tri al wei g h ed

h eav il y ag ai n s t h i m ).

(d ) Prejudi ce

.

As t o t h e p reju d i ce fact o r, th ere are th ree i n t eres t s wh i ch th e

s p eed y t ri al ri g h t w as des i gn ed t o p ro t ect

, t h e l as t b ei n g t h e m o s t

i m p o rt an t : (a) t o p rev en t o p pres si ve pre-t ri al i n c arcerat i o n ; (b ) t o

d o ck et s

, ch an g es i n p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey s

, an d t he t ri al co urt ’ s d eci si o n t o al l o w t h e

Fo rs y t h Co u n ty t r i a l t o p ro ceed fi rs t

. See Ru f f i n

, s u p ra, 2 8 4 Ga. at 6 0 (2 ) (b ) (i i )

(d el ay s cau s ed b y o vercro w d ed d o ck et s

, t h e g o v ern m en t ’ s f a ilur e to pr ov i d e ad eq u at e

p ro s ecu to rs

, an d m ere co n v en i en ce o f t he p ro s ecu t i on are at t ri b u t ab l e t o t he St at e).

12m i n i m ize an x i et y an d co n c e r n o f t h e accu s ed ; an d (c) t o l im it th e

p o s s i b i l i t y t h at t h e d efen s e wi l l b e im p ai red

. Im

p ai rm en t o f t h e defen s e

i s t h e m o st i m

p ort an t co m

p o n en t o f t h e p r e

ju d i ce fact o r b ecau s e th e

i n ab il i t y o f a defen d an t ad eq u at el y t o prep are hi s cas e s k ews t he fai rn es s

o f t h e en t ire s y s tem

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br o wn , s u p ra, 2 87 Ga. at 8 9 5 -8 9 6 (1 ) (d ).

Yo rk d i d n o t cl ai m b el o w t h at h e was s u b ject ed t o o p p res s i v e p re-t ri al

i n carcerat i on

. 6 Rat h er, h e as s ert ed t h at h e s u ffered g reat an x i et y an d co n cern wh i l e

h e was i n carcerat ed

, b ecau s e h e was m o ved t o s ev eral d et e n t i o n c e n t ers

, h e was

s e p a r a t ed fro m hi s y o u n g d au g h t er, h e l o st i n co m e, an d h e l earn ed t h at h i s b ro t h er

d i ed

. Th e tri al co u rt co rrect l y co n cl u d ed t h at t h es e an x i et ies were i n s u f f i ci en t to

es t ab l i s h a co n s t it u t i o n al v i o l at i o n

. See Br ewi ng t o n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 52 0

, 5 2 4 (3 ) (b )

(i v) (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 60 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (g en eral i zed an x iet i es s t em m i ng fro m i n carcerat i o n

, s u ch

as b ei n g s ep arat ed fro m on e’ s fa m i l y, d o n o t ri s e t o t he l ev el o f a co n s t i t u t i o n al

v i o l at i o n ).

Yo rk al s o cl ai m ed t hat h e was p reju d i ced becau s e an al i b i wi t n es s d i ed in

Decem b er 2 0 1 1

. Yo rk p ro ffered t h at t h e wi t n es s wo u l d h av e t es t i fi ed t h at Y o rk was

6 To th e ex t en t Yo rk arg u es o p p res s i v e p re-t ri al i n carcerat i o n n ow, fo r t h e fi rs t

t i m e o n ap peal

, h e i s p recl u d ed fro m do i ng s o

. See Al exa n d er v. S ta te

, 2 7 9 Ga. 6 8 3,

6 8 5 (2 ) (b ) (6 2 0 SE2 d 7 9 2) (2 00 5 ).

13at a reco rd i n g s t u d i o i n At l an t a at t h e t i m e o f t h e G wi n n e t t bu rg lary

. W i t h o ut

d eci d i n g wh et h er t hi s wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y wo u l d h av e b een fav o rab le, t h e t ri al co u rt

co n cl u d ed t h at Yo rk s u ffered n o p reju d i ce becau s e t he al i b i wi t n es s ’ s deat h occu rred

b efo re Yo rk ’ s cas e fi rs t ap p eared o n a t ri al cal en d er i n M arch 2 0 1 2

. As n ot ed ab o ve,

h o wev er, t h e t r i a l co u rt fai l ed t o co n s i d er t h e p ret ri al d el ay b et ween Yo rk ’ s

i n d i ct m en t i n Sep tem

b er 2 0 1 1 an d t h e fi rs t s ch ed u led t ri al d at e o f M a r ch 2 0 1 2

. If

wi t n es s es d i e o r d i s ap p ear d u ri n g a d el ay

, th e p reju d i ce i s o b vi o u s

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n fi n d i ng no preju d ice. See S t a te v. Red d i n g

, 27 4 Ga. 8 3 1

, 8 34 (5 6 1 SE2 d 7 9 )

(2 0 0 2).

(C) Ba l a nci ng the fo ur fa cto rs

.

Th e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt h as m ad e cl ear t h at t ri al co u rt s m u s t “ co n s i d er an d

wei g h al l fo u r fact o rs un der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f each cas e[.] ” (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .)

Po r ter

, s up ra, 2 8 8 Ga. at 5 3 3 (2 ) (d ). As set fo rt h ab o v e, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er fai l ed

t o m ak e fi n d i n g s o f fact reg ard i n g wh et h er t h e d el ay was u n co m m o nl y l o n g; t h e t ri al

co u rt fai l ed t o i n d i cat e wh et h er Yo rk o r t h e St at e were m o re res po n si b l e fo r t h e d el ay

an d wh at wei g h t i t g av e t o th i s fact or; an d t h e t r i a l c o u rt erred i n fi n d i n g th at Yo rk

s u ffered n o preju d ice fro m t h e d eat h o f a p o t en ti al al i b i wi t n es s

. In l ig h t o f t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t p r op erl y bal an ce t he fo u r B ar ker -Do g g et t

14fact ors

. A cco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al c o u r t ’s o rd er o n Yo rk ’ s m o t i o n t o d is m i ss o n s p eed y

t ri al g ro un ds m

u s t b e v acat ed an d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r t ri al co u rt act i o n co n s i s t en t

wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

. Po r t er , s u pra, 2 8 8 Ga. at 5 3 3-5 3 4 (2 ) (e).

Ju d g men t a f f ir med i n p a r t ; va ca ted a n d r ema n d ed i n pa r t. An d

r ews

, P. J., a n d

Br a nch , J., co n cu r

.

15