Opinion ID: 320436
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the dicta re speedy trial

Text: 142 One other feature of the majority opinion that deserves discussion is appellant's claim that he was denied a speedy trial and the consideration to be given in that claim to the time spent at St. Elizabeths Hospital before the mental examination he requested was completed. While the majority does not find that the time so spent, plus other delays, resulted in a denial of appellant's constitutional right to a speedy trial, it goes on to imply, in my view incorrectly, that the delay in obtaining a mental examination should, under some circumstances, be chargeable against the Government. That this is dicta should ordinarily obviate the necessity of comment but, since this circuit too frequently tends to transmute dicta into holding, one is sometimes well advised to abort such prospective law before it quickens. The hazard that concerns me lurks in footnote 6 of the opinion where it states 'that delay caused by congestion in hospitals should not be charged against the government as readily as delay in the court is.' This implies that delay caused by congestion in hospitals under some circumstances should be charged against the Government. 143 In my view the proper standard to be applied in such circumstances is set forth in Minimum Standards of Criminal Justice of the American Bar Association. These standards provide that in determining whether one's right to a speedy trial has been denied there shall be an exlusion of: 144 The period of delay resulting from other proceedings concerning the defendant, including but not limited to an examination and hearing on competency and the period during which he is incompetent to stand trial, hearings on pretrial motions, interlocutory appeals, and trial of other charges. 145 ABA Standards Relating to Speedy Trial (approved draft, 1968) 2.3. 146 If that rule is to apply when the Government requests the examination, then, a fortiori, that should be the result when the defendant, as here, has requested the examination. In all fairness, such time should not be attributed to either party except in extreme situations. Of course, if it were shown that either party acted in bad faith or intentionally delayed the proceedings and thereby secured an unfair advantage, the delay so caused might be charged against the party responsible for such conduct.