Opinion ID: 2105884
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: When Is an Indictment Found?

Text: In interpreting rule 27(2)(a), we review for errors at law. State v. Davis, 525 N.W.2d 837, 838 (Iowa 1994). We first look to the public policy behind and the purpose of rule 27(2), which states `it is the public policy of the state of Iowa that criminal prosecutions be concluded at the earliest possible time consistent with a fair trial to both parties.' Davis, 525 N.W.2d at 839 (quoting Iowa R.Crim. P. 27(2)). If we accept the State's interpretation that an indictment is found when it is approved by the court, then the indictment here was timely pursuant to rule 27(2)(a) because it was approved on the forty-fifth day. However, we conclude an indictment cannot be found strictly upon the court's approval of the trial information as the State urges. We believe the State's interpretation would frustrate the purpose of rule 27(2) that criminal prosecutions be concluded at the earliest possible time consistent with a fair trial to both parties because an indictment could be found even though there is no record of the information on file with the clerk's office and therefore no notice to defendant. We have stated that [t]he purpose of an indictment or information is to apprise the defendant of the crime charged so that the defendant may have the opportunity to prepare a defense. State v. Grice, 515 N.W.2d 20, 22 (Iowa 1994). We believe this purpose is best accomplished by requiring that an indictment is filed before it is considered to be found. Therefore, to make sense of the term found in rule 27(2)(a) for both grand jury indictments and trial informations we believe it must be interpreted to mean approved and filed, if a trial information, or found and filed if a grand jury indictment. See United States v. Oliva, 46 F.3d 320, 324 (3d Cir.1995) (an indictment is found under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3282, when it is returned by the grand jury and filed); United States v. Shell, 961 F.2d 138, 141 (9th Cir.1992) (same); United States v. Srulowitz, 819 F.2d 37, 40 (2d Cir.1987) (same). Thus the file date is the date by which to determine whether an indictment has been found within forty-five days of defendant's arrest for purposes of rule 27(2)(a).