Opinion ID: 2630520
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: right to speedy appeal

Text: ¶ 124 The court assistant argues that the government has violated Arguelles's right to a speedy appeal. The court assistant relies on Harris v. Champion, 15 F.3d 1538 (10th Cir.1994), to assert that such a right exists under federal law. The State argues that Harris is not binding on this court and that neither the United States Supreme Court nor this court has recognized a right to a speedy appeal. ¶ 125 We decline to recognize a right to a speedy appeal. There is no controlling federal precedent that recognizes such a right, and the court assistant has failed to demonstrate why this court should adopt this notion under the Utah constitution. As we have stated, [a]s a general rule, we will not engage in state constitutional analysis unless an argument for different analyses under the state and federal constitutions is briefed.... This Court will not engage in constructing arguments out of whole cloth on behalf of defendants in capital cases. State v. Lafferty, 749 P.2d 1239, 1247 n. 5 (Utah 1988). ¶ 126 Even if we were to recognize a right to a speedy appeal, it would not have been violated in this case. The appeals process was interrupted for nineteen months when Arguelles attempted suicide and the case was remanded for a competency hearing. Further, the court assistant asked for numerous extensions from this court to complete and file his brief, both before and after the competency hearing. Thus, the court assistant and Arguelles invited any delay of Arguelles's appeal.