Opinion ID: 1093261
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Fisher's Assertion Of His Right To A Speedy Trial

Text: An understanding of the burdens imposed by the law is essential to evaluation of this factor. The burden for bringing a defendant to trial in a timely manner rests with the prosecution. Perry v. State, 419 So.2d 194, 199 (Miss. 1982). See also Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 527-29, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 2190-91, 33 L.Ed.2d 101, 115-16 (1972). This is a corollary of our oft-stated proposition that a defendant has no obligation to bring himself to trial. See Williamson v. State, 512 So.2d 868, 877 (Miss. 1987); Beavers v. State, 498 So.2d 788, 791 (Miss. 1986); Nations v. State, 481 So.2d 760, 761 (Miss. 1985); Turner v. State, 383 So.2d 489, 491 (Miss. 1980). The majority opinion asserts that Fisher at no time asserted his right to a speedy trial and implies a waiver and in the end holds that this factor in the balancing test can be assigned little weight one way or the other. I disagree. In the first place, though he filed no formal motion demanding a speedy trial, Fisher wrote letters from Parchman during the time that he was on death row demanding a speedy trial on the present charge. Moreover, in view of the State's burden and Fisher's lack of burden, a silent record on this point should at the very least be construed as a slight factor in favor of Fisher.