Court Opinion

ID: 9523827
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 02:47:22.344399+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:14.547551
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Chief Justice
(special concurrence).
I concur. SDCL 23A-44-5.1 provides in part, “any period of delay shall be excluded if the trial court finds good cause for the delay.” This language was used to provide the trial courts with broad discretion in excluding any period of delay. It was meant to cover a multitude of circumstances rather than limiting the “good cause” to a laundry list of circumstances. In my opinion, this Court should give “good cause” a liberal interpretation to prevent a harsh result or a miscarriage of justice. On the other hand the trial courts cannot find “good cause” where none exists.
The record in this case shows that Judge Heege was available to try this case on December 21, 1985. Additionally, I would take judicial notice there were three other circuit judges and two part-time law magistrates available in the Fourth Judicial Circuit to try this case. Also, the presiding judge could have requested the assignment of a judge from outside the circuit. See section 11 of Art. V of the State Constitution.