Opinion ID: 1621560
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Failure to File Motion for Discharge

Text: Sims argues he was deprived of effective trial counsel because trial counsel failed to make a motion for discharge following a violation of Sims' right to a speedy trial. Sims raised this issue on direct appeal from his conviction, but we held in State v. Sims, 258 Neb. 357, 603 N.W.2d 431 (1999), that the record was insufficient at that time to resolve it. [3] In a postconviction action, when a defendant alleges he or she was prejudiced by trial counsel's failure to properly assert the defendant's speedy trial rights, the court must consider the merits of the defendant's speedy trial rights under Strickland. See, State v. Rieger, 270 Neb. 904, 708 N.W.2d 630 (2006); State v. Meers, 267 Neb. 27, 671 N.W.2d 234 (2003). Only if a properly made motion should have resulted in the defendant's absolute discharge, thus barring a subsequent trial and conviction, could the failure to make a motion for discharge be deemed prejudicial. See State v. Meers, supra . Sims alleges that a motion for discharge, if properly made, would have been granted because, as of May 23, 1998, both his statutory and constitutional speedy trial rights were violated. We address each of these in turn.