Court Opinion

ID: 9721863
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:11:19.914815+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:29.007360
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE CRAVEN, dissenting: The trial court was correct and should be affirmed. In Lawson, the supreme court stated: “If the accused satisfies the trial court that he or she has been substantially prejudiced by the delay, then the burden shifts to the State to show the reasonableness, if not the necessity, of the delay.” 67 Ill. 2d 449, 459, 367 N.E.2d 1244, 1248. It is absolutely clear from this record that the defendant established that she had been substantially prejudiced by the delay. We are here dealing with a transaction involving a $66 check issued to a department store or discount store. The transaction took place well over a year prior to the time that the defendant was charged by information. The finding of the trial court of substantial prejudice was clearly sufficient to shift the burden of proof to the State. Every opportunity was afforded the State to explain the delay. Indeed, the trial court judge specifically and explicitly inquired of the People the reason for the delay. The prosecution referred to the tremendous load that the prosecutor’s office has in bad check cases and expressed the opinion that the delay in the present case may just have been inadvertence. As I view Lawson, that is not a satisfactory explanation of the delay. It does not show reasonableness nor necessity. It is the clear import of Lawson that the trial court must make a determination based upon a balancing of the interests of the defendant and the public and in doing so should consider the length of the delay and the seriousness of the offense. The trial court performed that function admirably and well and we should affirm, not reverse, the determination thus made.