Robey v. United States

Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner.

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.

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Author(s)

Steven H. Goldblatt, Georgetown University Law Center Appellate Litigation Program, Washington, DC; David M. Porter, NACDL, Washington, DC.