Opinion ID: 1990859
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: calculation of speedy trial time

Text: [3,4] Nebraska's speedy trial statutes provide in part that [e]very person indicted or informed against for any offense shall be brought to trial within six months, and such time shall be computed as provided in this section. [23] Where a felony offense is involved, the 6-month speedy trial period commences to run from the date the indictment is returned or the information filed, and not from the time the complaint is filed. [24] Certain periods of delay are excluded from the speedy trial computation, including: (a) The period of delay resulting from other proceedings concerning the defendant, including but not limited to . . . the time from filing until final disposition of pretrial motions of the defendant, including motions to suppress evidence, motions to quash the indictment or information, demurrers and pleas in abatement . . . . (b) The period of delay resulting from a continuance granted at the request or with the consent of the defendant or his counsel. [25] To calculate the time for speedy trial purposes, a court must exclude the day the information was filed, count forward 6 months, back up 1 day, and then add any time excluded under § 29-1207(4) to determine the last day the defendant can be tried. [26] [5,6] The plain terms of § 29-1207(4)(a) exclude all time between the time of the filing of a defendant's pretrial motions and their final disposition, regardless of the promptness or reasonableness of the delay. [27] Such motions include a defendant's motion to suppress evidence and a motion for discovery filed by the defendant. [28] The excludable period commences on the day immediately after the filing of a defendant's pretrial motion. [29] Final disposition under § 29-1207(4)(a) occurs on the date the motion is 'granted or denied.' [30] Pursuant to § 29-1207(4)(a), it is presumed that a delay in hearing defense pretrial motions is attributable to the defendant unless the record affirmatively indicates otherwise. [31] [7,8] An interlocutory appeal taken by the defendant is a period of delay resulting from other proceedings concerning the defendant within the meaning of § 29-1207(4)(a). [32] In calculating the number of excludable days resulting from an interlocutory appeal, for speedy trial purposes, the period to be excluded due to the appeal commences on and includes the date on which the defendant filed his or her notice of appeal. [33] Where further proceedings are to be had following an interlocutory appeal, for speedy trial purposes, the period of time excludable due to the appeal concludes when the district court first reacquires jurisdiction over the case by taking action on the mandate of the appellate court. [34] [9] As noted, § 29-1207(4)(b) excludes delays resulting from a continuance granted at the request or with the consent of the defendant or his or her counsel. [35] the calculation for a continuance begins the day after the continuance is granted and includes the day on which the continuance ends. [36] In the case of an indefinite continuance, the calculation runs from the day immediately following the grant of the continuance and ends when the defendant takes some affirmative action, such as requesting a trial date, to show his or her desire for the indefinite continuance to end or, absent such a showing, on the rescheduled trial date. [37] [10-12] Under § 29-1208, if a defendant is not brought to trial before the running of the time for trial, as extended by excludable periods, he or she shall be entitled to his or her absolute discharge. [38] the burden of proof is upon the state to show that one or more of the excluded time periods under § 29-1207(4) are applicable when the defendant is not tried within 6 months. [39] To overcome a defendant's motion for discharge on speedy trial grounds, the State must prove the existence of an excludable period by a preponderance of the evidence. [40]