Court Opinion

ID: 9856137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:39:03.149947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:26:08.432515
License: Public Domain

NEELY, Justice,
concurring:
I heartily concur with today’s holding but I would go further in that I would require an affirmative motion by the defendant for a trial within one term before any rights as set forth in syl. pt. 4 of the majority opinion come into operation. I would always infer good cause from a silent record.
Defendants are now all represented by counsel. Seldom does a defendant want any trial, speedy or otherwise. Requiring an order of record continuing a case during the first or succeeding terms up to the constitutional three terms merely creates one more trap for young and inexperienced prosecutors; it will have no effect whatsoever on the proper administration of justice; and, it will merely take lawyer, judge, and staff time. Where a defendant really wants a speedy trial he can ask for one and in that event I would impose an even higher standard regarding good cause than today’s majority opinion provides. Law is practical and that is the practical approach. We should give trials to people who want them and not worry overly much about people who do not want them.