Opinion ID: 773283
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Compliance with Speedy Trial Act

Text: 56 Jambu alleges that the government failed to indict him within thirty days of his arrest on May 1, 1998, as required under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b), and that the indictment returned against him on June 1, 1998, should have been dismissed under 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a)(1). The district court's application of the Speedy Trial Act is reviewed de novo.United States v. Graef, 31 F.3d 362, 363 (6th Cir. 1994). 57 Section 3161(b) provides: Any information or indictment charging an individual with the commission of an offense shall be filed within thirty days from the date on which such individual was arrested or served with a summons in connection with such charges. 58 18 U.S.C. § 3161(b). If the time limit of that section is exceeded, such charge against that individual contained in such complaint shall be dismissed or otherwise dropped. 18U.S.C. § 3162(a)(1). 59 A defendant is not arrested for purposes of the Speedy Trial Act until formal federal charges are pending, that is, when a formal complaint or charge is issued. Graef, 31 F.3d at 363-64; United States v. Blackmon, 874 F.2d 378, 381 (6th Cir.),cert. denied, 493 U.S. 859 (1989). Although Jambu was arrested on May 1, 1998, the formal complaint and federal arrest warrant were not filed or issued until May 3, 1998. Since no formal federal charges were pending until May 3, 1998, the indictment returned on June 1, 1998, was filed within the thirty-day limit. 60 The trial court also found that the indictment was timely because the thirtieth day following May 1, 1998, fell on Sunday, May 31, 1998, and therefore the deadline for indictment was extended to Monday, June 1, 1998. The trial court relied on Rule 45(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which provides that where the last day of a period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period runs until the end of the next day which is not one of these days. Rule 45(a) has been applied to extend the statutory time period for returning an indictment. See United States v. Wright, 990 F.2d 147, 149 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 870 (1993); Blackmon, 874 F.2d at 382. 61 Jambu argues that Rule 45(a) should not be applied to extend the time limit in § 3161(b) because it is the United States attorney who determines when criminal prosecutions will be initiated. He contends that the procedural rules of the court should not apply to such actions beyond the court's control. However, it is the district court which has the authority under Rule 6(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to summon the grand jury to which the government's evidence must be presented in order to secure an indictment. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 6(a)(The court shall order one or more grand juries to be summoned at such time as the public interest requires.). Further, § 3161(b) requires that the indictment be filed within thirty days with the clerk of courts. Thus, Rule 45(a) is properly applied to extend the time period in § 3161(b) where the last day would otherwise fall on a day when the courthouse is not open for business and the government has no access to the grand jury or the clerk of court. 62 The trial court properly denied Jambu's motion to dismiss the indictment under § 3162(a)(1) 2 . 63