Opinion ID: 895744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Detainers Act

Text: [¶ 7] We begin our analysis with the fact that Foster was not brought to trial within 90 days after filing the detainer. Foster disregards that portion of the statute which allows for the court, upon good cause shown, to extend the period during which a defendant can be brought to trial. This court has previously enunciated the factors pertinent to determining whether an extension or continuance of a trial is for good cause. Relying upon Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972), we set out the following factors: (1) length of delay; (2) reason for delay; (3) defendant's assertion of his right; and (4) prejudice to the defendant. See Kania, supra . [¶ 8] The first factor to be considered is length of delay. At the hearing on November 14, 1994, Foster's attorney Leslie Johnson asked to be removed from the case citing a conflict of interest. The trial judge granted her request, and assigned attorney Steve Mottinger to replace her. The court then asked Mottinger if he would be ready to proceed with trial the next day, to which Mottinger answered no. Foster registered his displeasure with the appointment of Mottinger, and requested his original attorney or a different attorney, which requests were denied. At that point, Foster requested to proceed pro se the next day if [he] ha[d] to have him [Mottinger] as a lawyer. The court denied his request. In addition, the court had no open dates during which to try the case before the expiration of the Detainers Act's 90 days on December 5, 1994. The court, for these reasons, granted an extension of the Detainers Act to January 1, 1995, which was 26 days after the expiration of the Act. The trial was rescheduled and commenced on December 19, 1994. The actual delay of Foster's trial beyond the expiration of the detainer was 14 days. The trial was held within the 26-day extension granted by the court. It should also be noted that the extension was granted before the expiration of the 90 days after the request for a speedy trial. See State v. Ripley, 548 N.W.2d 24 (N.D.1996); State v. Olsen, 540 N.W.2d 149 (N.D.1995). [¶ 9] Foster's case can be distinguished from State v. Olsen, 540 N.W.2d 149 (N.D. 1995). In Olsen, the defendant filed a notice of detainer, and the State requested a 60-day continuance from the date of its expiration. The continuance was granted, but the trial was ultimately rescheduled to be heard 3 days after the continuance expired. In Foster's case, the court granted a 26 day continuance, and trial was set and heard within that period of time. [¶ 10] The second factor for consideration is the reason for delay. The substitution of attorney Mottinger for attorney Johnson the day before trial was to begin, the court's full schedule and the approaching State holiday combined to warrant postponement of the trial in this case. We do not intend this decision to mean that any defendant who has filed a notice of detainer can be put off until convenient for the courtthat would undermine the purpose behind the Detainers Act which is to require prompt disposition of criminal charges against inmates. State v. Ripley, 548 N.W.2d 24, 26 (N.D.1996). If it appears an extension need be granted because of the court's schedule, we urge the trial court judge to first pursue other avenues to try the case within the time prescribed, including reassignment to another available judge within the district. [¶ 11] The third factor in our evaluation is defendant's assertion of his right. Foster signed the detainer on September 1, 1994. The detainer was received by the Cass County State's Attorney and the Cass County District Court on September 6, 1994. It is clear from the record of the November 14, 1994 hearing that the court and the State's Attorney were aware that Foster had filed a detainer and that the 90 days would expire on December 5, 1994. At the hearing, Foster registered his disagreement with the court's proposed 26-day extension and requested that he be tried within the 90 days pursuant to the Detainers Act. There can be no doubt that Foster asserted his right to be tried before the expiration of the Act. [¶ 12] Prejudice to the defendant is the fourth factor to consider. Foster, however, has shown no manner in which he was prejudiced by the delay of his trial. Delay is not presumptively prejudicial. State v. Murchison, 541 N.W.2d 435, 439 (N.D.1995). We have held prejudice can take three forms: `oppressive pretrial incarceration', `anxiety and concern' caused by the delay, and an impaired defense. Id. (citation omitted). Foster was already incarcerated in the State Penitentiary and had served just over 5 months of a two-year sentence for a separate conviction when he filed the detainer in this case. Foster would have been incarcerated up to the date of the trial and beyond, whether the trial had taken place on or before December 5, 1994, or on December 19, 1994. There is no claim of anxiety and concern because of the delay, nor is there any evidence of impaired defense. Murchison, at 439. The two-week delay in trying this case has not been shown to have caused any actual prejudice to Foster. [¶ 13] Having applied the pertinent factors to the record, we conclude that the trial court for good cause shown extended the expiration of the Detainers Act for 26 days and did not abuse its discretion. There is no evidence that the trial court acted unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably.