Court Opinion

ID: 9628442
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:20:32.295135+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:05.478295
License: Public Domain

CAMERON, Justice,
dissenting
I regret that I must dissent.
First, I note that the majority opinion stresses the responsibility of the defendant to call to the court’s attention the time limits of the case. Ariz.R.Crim.P. 8.1(d), 17 A.R.S. I agree with that statement, but would add that it is also the responsibility of the state to inform the trial court of any potential violations of the speedy trial rule. Ariz.R.Crim.P. 8.1(c), 17 A.R.S. Indeed, Rule 8.1(c) provides, “[t]he prosecutor shall advise the court of facts relevant to determining the order of cases on the calendar.” Ariz.R.Crim.P. 8.1(c). I believe this includes informing the court of the impending expiration of time limits. Both the defendant and the prosecution have this obligation and neither side should benefit by the other’s failure to so inform the court.
What the majority opinion does is completely gut the 150 day speedy trial rule of Hinson v. Coulter, 150 Ariz. 306, 723 P.2d 655 (1986), and the provision of Rule 8.2(e), Ariz.R.Crim.P., 17 A.R.S., which states that the time limits “may not be extended by stipulation or waiver....” Under the majority’s ruling, defendants and prosecutors will be allowed to avoid the speedy trial requirements of Hinson and Rule 8 by merely doing nothing. We have seen in the past that prosecutors frequently fail to bring drunk driving cases promptly to trial. It is well known that it is the defendant who usually benefits from lack of speedy trial even though constitutionally it is considered his right. Henceforth, the defendant and the state need only agree not to question the trial time and by that “waive” the speedy trial requirement of Rule 8 and of Hinson. I dissent.