Opinion ID: 1958887
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Judicial Delay/Due Diligence

Text: Alternatively, we find no evidence upon which to sustain a finding of a lack of due diligence on the part of the Commonwealth. Even under appellee's alternate constructions of the Rule 1100 run dates, there was only a 10 day ( 130 days from the withdraw of the plea) or 1 day ( 366 days from the filing of the original complaint) unexcused delay in this case. As the trial court, and not the prosecutor controlled the docket, and there is no indication that the prosecutor ever failed to appear ready for trial on a date scheduled for trial, we find that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that a lack of due diligence on the Commonwealth's part, rather than excusable judicial delay on its own part, caused the minimal delay involved here. Trial courts are not required to rearrange their dockets to accommodate Rule 1100 run dates. See Commonwealth v. Smith, 524 Pa. 72, 569 A.2d 337 (1990); Commonwealth v. Miller, 390 Pa.Super. 129, 568 A.2d 228 (1990); Commonwealth v. Bell, 386 Pa.Super. 164, 562 A.2d 849 (1989). [5] If cases are taken out of order or reassigned to other judges, however, some care must be taken to avoid excessive, prejudicial delays. See Commonwealth v. Africa, 524 Pa. 118, 569 A.2d 920 (1990) (placing appellant's case at the bottom of different judges' dockets when the case was transferred resulted in excessive and prejudicial delays requiring discharge). Here, the brief delay involved was entirely attributable to the trial court's own docket management; moreover, it was entirely inconsequential. Had the prosecutor failed to appear ready for trial on a date set for trial, or had it controlled the docket, that would be different. As it is, we must agree with the Commonwealth that the trial court abused its discretion in finding a lack of due diligence on the Commonwealth's part, and in denying the Commonwealth's timely petition for an extension on grounds of judicial delay. For this reason too, the order of the trial court must be vacated, the charges reinstated, and the case remanded for a new trial.