Court Opinion

ID: 9722168
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:18:39.627338+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:31.133862
License: Public Domain

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE STOUDER specially concurring: I agree with the result reached by my colleagues since I believe it is in accord with the precedents. There is little doubt that the authorities in this State on this subject have repeatedly announced the rule that if the defendant seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in a continuance the period of time contemplated by the 120-day rule commences to run from the date to which the cause is continued. According to the authorities such a continuance amounts to delay occasioned by the defendant as a matter of law without regard to whether in fact there was any unreasonable interference with the orderly and efficient administration of justice. It seems to me that many changes have occurred in trial procedures which justify a re-examination of the application and interpretation of our statutory implementation of the constitutional speedy trial requirement. Neither the statute nor court decisions require that a defendant in custody be ready, willing and available to stand trial on each or any other specified number of the 120 days described in the statute. In fact if a defendant is arrested and in custody before indictment trial before indictment would be impossible unless defendant waives such indictment. Both as a practical and technical matter defendant’s refusal to waive indictment could be considered delaying conduct. If the 120-day rule and current procedures are to be harmonized it well might be that the State should be required to show and the court find that the conduct of the defendant occasioned actual unreasonable delay rather than delay which is only apparent. If the conduct of the defendant did not constitute significant or actual delay, as the trial court found in this case and I believe properly so found, then the trial court should be entitled to determine that the State had failed to meet its responsibility to afford the speedy trial contemplated by the statute. From the briefs and oral arguments it should be noted that in this case the State was well aware of the trial court’s position that the intervening procedures did not constitute delay occasioned by the defendant. On July 17, the State attempted to coerce the defendant’s release on bail by requesting that defendant be released on a nominal recognizance bond which release was declined by defendant. Furthermore it should be noted that the case was set for August 2 before a special jury impaneled at the request of the State without any showing that an earlier convening of such special jury was in any way prevented or interfered with by defendant’s conduct. As has often been said neither precipitous haste nor purposeless delay are consonant with fundamental fairness. Balancing these extremes in accord with changing variables requires continuing refinement.