Brief filed: 02/24/2017
Documents
Robey v. United States
United States Supreme Court; Case No. 16-7725
Prior Decision
Decision below, 831 F.3d 857 (7th Cir. Aug. 3, 2016).
Argument(s)
The question whether a district court must provide specific and individualized reasons on the record before an ends-of-justice continuance counts as excludable time is vitally important for ensuring speedy trials. The circuits are divided on how to review ends-of-justice continuances. The circuit conflict is important because district courts frequently use the ends-of-justice provision to grant continuances. Congress created the STA with the public interest firmly in mind and only strict compliance with the Act's on-the-record requirement will protect the public interest. Judicial enforcement of the STA is particularly important in circuits, like the Seventh, that are relatively slow in disposing of criminal cases.
Author(s)
Steven H. Goldblatt, Georgetown University Law Center Appellate Litigation Program, Washington, DC; David M. Porter, NACDL, Washington, DC.