Opinion ID: 2543392
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: denial of due process and speedy trial

Text: Bloom contends his constitutional and statutory rights to due process and speedy trial were violated. Specifically, Bloom alleges the violation arises as the result of the procedures under the local court rules. K.S.A. 22-3402(1) states: If any person charged with a crime and held in jail solely by reason thereof shall not be brought to trial within ninety (90) days after such person's arraignment on the charge, such person shall be entitled to be discharged from further liability to be tried for the crime charged, unless the delay shall happen as a result of the application or fault of the defendant.... In this case, Bloom was arraigned on December 16, 1998. On March 8, 1999, less that 90 days later, Bloom appeared before the district court on a joint motion for continuance. The district court judge noted that Bloom was still in jail at that time, and that he was entitled to be brought to trial within 90 days. The judge inquired as to whether Bloom would waive his right to speedy trial and allow trial to be set down the road aways. Bloom agreed to waive his right to speedy trial. The reason for the continuance was that Bloom's previous counsel had left the public defender's office and Bloom's new counsel needed additional time to prepare for trial. Pursuant to the request, trial was reset for May 24, 1999. On May 24, 1999, Bloom appeared before the district court on defense counsel's motion for continuance. Bloom stated to the court that he was unhappy with his court-appointed counsel. Bloom indicated he was not requesting counsel be removed, but that he (Bloom) was just trying to put a fire under her tail. The judge stated: THE COURT: And I think that you and all of us want to give Ms. Donovan time to prepare for the trial, your trial, so that she can be in a position to defend you fully, if that's your decision. DEFENDANT BLOOM: Yes, ma'am. Trial was reset for June 21, 1999. On June 9, 1999, defense counsel once again filed a motion for continuance. The motion and order for continuance noted that the continuance had been requested because the defendant had recently added a new attorney, discovery was not yet completed, and the coroner would be on vacation until mid-August. The motion and order for continuance noted that Bloom had previously waived speedy trial rights. Trial was rescheduled for August 23, 1999. On July 15, 1999, Bloom filed a pro se motion for new counsel. On July 19, 1999, Bloom's new counsel filed a motion for continuance. On August 13, 1999, Bloom's counsel filed a motion to stay the criminal proceedings and a motion to dismiss, alleging Bloom's statutory right to speedy trial had been violated. Bloom was denied habeas corpus relief after an August 16, 1999 hearing. The district court held that all continuances up until that time were at the request of the defense and that there were no grounds for granting relief. The district court subsequently denied Bloom's motion to dismiss his criminal charge on August 23, 1999. The judge then granted the defendant's request for an another continuance and rescheduled trial for November 8, 1999. Defense counsel noted at that time that they were waiving speedy trial rights from here on. Additional continuances were also granted at the request of the defense on October 28, 1999, January 7, 2000, and February 24, 2000. Bloom is not appealing these further delays. At the hearing on the motion to dismiss and on appeal, Bloom refers to a local district court rule that requires a motion for continuance to contain a signed written waiver of speedy trial rights. Thus, Bloom maintains that his failure to waive speedy trial rights in writing, as required by the local court rules, deprives him of due process of law and a fair trial. Both parties fail, however, to provide the text of this rule on appeal. It appears that the rule Bloom is referring to is Shawnee County District Court Rule 3.319, which requires any party requesting a continuance to complete a Request for Continuance form. If requesting continuance of a trial setting, the form requires the defendant's written waiver of speedy trial rights. DCR 3.319. Bloom claims his March 8, 1999, waiver of speedy trial rights was not an indefinite waiver, and that the continuances granted on May 24, 1999, and June 9, 1999, were in violation of his rights to speedy trial and due process. The June 9, 1999, motion and order for continuance merely noted that Bloom had already waived his right to speedy trial. The record on appeal does not appear to contain a written motion and order for the May 24, 1999, continuance. Thus, neither of these continuances contained a signed waiver of speedy trial rights. It must also be noted that the March 8, 1999, waiver of speedy trial rights, which Bloom does not contest, also fails to contain a written waiver of his speedy trial rights. District courts are authorized to make rules that are necessary for the administration of affairs of the district court, as long as they do not conflict with the Supreme Court's rules and regulations. Rule 105 (2001 Kan. S. Ct. R. Annot. 152). This does not necessarily mean, however, that the failure to follow these rules would result in a violation of a defendant's due process rights. In order to establish a procedural due process violation, a claimant must establish that he or she was denied a specific procedural protection to which he or she was entitled. In reviewing the claim, the court must determine whether there is a protected liberty or property interest involved, and must then determine the nature and extent of the process due. State v. Wilkinson, 269 Kan. 603, 608-09, 9 P.3d 1 (2000). A local court rule requiring a written waiver of a defendant's right to speedy trial does not create a liberty or property interest. Bloom also claims his statutory rights to speedy trial were violated. A defendant may waive the statutory right to speedy trial by requesting or acquiescing in the grant of a continuance. In calculating speedy trial violations, defense counsel's actions are attributable to the defendant. State v. Southard, 261 Kan. 744, 748, 933 P.2d 730 (1997); State v. Bafford, 255 Kan. 888, 892, 879 P.2d 613 (1994). Here, Bloom personally acquiesced to the continuance granted on May 24, 1999, thus it cannot be said this continuance violated his right to a speedy trial. Although there is no indication Bloom affirmatively consented to the continuance granted on June 9, 1999, the continuance was appropriately charged to Bloom because his counsel requested it. See Bafford, 255 Kan. at 893 (defendant's claim that he did not acquiesce to his defense counsel's request for a continuance did not prohibit this time from being charged to the defendant in calculating speedy trial; counsel need not obtain defendant's permission prior to moving for a continuance). Additionally, it must be noted that, contrary to Bloom's contentions, Bloom's waiver of speedy trial on March 8, 1999, was not limited in any manner. Thus, the initial waiver, which Bloom does not contend was invalid, continued, and no additional waiver was required. See State v. Smallwood, 264 Kan. 69, 74, 955 P.2d 1209 (1998) (defendant's assertion that waiver of speedy trial was limited to 180-day period failed because the record established the waiver was unconditional). Bloom did not limit his waiver; for Bloom to subsequently allege a speedy trial rights violation, Bloom was required to revoke his waiver. Bloom also contends his constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated, although neither party briefed the issue. In State v. Otero, 210 Kan. 530, 533-34, 502 P.2d 763 (1972), this court adopted the nonexclusive four-factor case-by-case approach set forth in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 33 L. Ed.2d 101, 92 S. Ct. 2182 (1972), for determining whether a defendant's constitutional right to speedy trial has been violated. Smallwood, 264 Kan. at 75. The factors are: length of delay, reason for the delay, the defendant's assertion of his or her right, and prejudice to the defendant. 264 Kan. at 75. If the length of the delay is not presumptively prejudicial, the court need not consider the other factors of the test. Barker, 407 U.S. at 530; Smallwood, 264 Kan. at 75; State v. Goss, 245 Kan. 189, 193, 777 P.2d 781 (1989). Three factors which may demonstrate the defendant has been prejudiced by a delay of trial are oppressive pretrial incarceration; anxiety and concern of the accused; and, most important, impairment of the defense. State v. Vaughn, 254 Kan. 191, 196, 865 P.2d 207 (1993). Smallwood, 264 Kan. at 76. Bloom was arraigned on December 16, 1998. The jury trial began on June 26, 2000. The total time between arraignment and trial was a little over 18 months. During that time, Bloom only contends that he did not agree to the delay that occurred between May 24, 1999, and July 19, 1999, a period of less than 2 months. Bloom has failed to demonstrate any prejudice that occurred as a result of the delay. Thus, there was no violation of Bloom's constitutional right to a speedy trial.