Title: State of West Virginia v. Somerlot  (concurring)
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 27907
State: west-virginia
Issuer: west-virginia Supreme Court
Date: January 5, 2001

FILED January 5, 2001 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA RELEASED January 5, 2001 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA No. 27907 - State of West Virginia v. Keith Somerlot Starcher, J., concurring: I concur with the result in the majority opinion, because any delay in delivering the petitioner’s request for final disposition of the charges against him was accidental, and because any prejudice to the petitioner was minimal. However, in a case where a substantial delay was deliberate or where the effect of any delay was substantially prejudicial, the “strict compliance” rule cannot be solely determinative of a defendant’s rights. The state may not break its own rules and procedures and thereby gain an unfair advantage against a criminal defendant.