Opinion ID: 2581959
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: United States and Wyoming Constitutional Provisions

Text: [¶ 39] This Court examines de novo the constitutional question of whether a defendant has been denied a speedy trial in violation of the Sixth Amendment.... The Sixth Amendment guarantees that the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial. In deciding whether a defendant has been denied a speedy trial, courts must balance 1) the length of the delay; 2) the reason for the delay; 3) the defendant's assertion of his right; and 4) the prejudice to the defendant. Warner [ v. State, 2001 WY 67,] ¶ 10, [28 P.3d 21, 26 (Wyo.2001)], Campbell v. State, 999 P.2d 649, 655 (Wyo.2000); Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 533, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2192, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972). None of these factors alone is sufficient to establish a speedy trial violation, [r]ather they are related factors and must be considered together with such other circumstances as may be relevant. Barker, 407 U.S. at 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2193. The determinative dynamic in our inquiry is whether the delay in bringing the accused to trial was unreasonable, that is, whether it substantially impaired the right of the accused to a fair trial. Warner, ¶ 10, Wehr v. State, 841 P.2d 104, 112 (Wyo.1992). When a speedy trial violation is found to have occurred, the charges must be dismissed. Warner, ¶ 10; Barker, 407 U.S. at 522, 92 S.Ct. at 2188. Walters, 2004 WY 37, ¶¶ 9-10, 87 P.3d at 795. See Wehr v. State, 841 P.2d 104, 111-12 (Wyo.1992) and Caton v. State, 709 P.2d 1260, 1264-65 (Wyo.1985) (Wyoming Constitution). The speedy trial clock starts to run upon arrest or when the complaint is filed. Osborne v. State, 806 P.2d 272, 277 (Wyo. 1991).