In Re Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic––return to Pre-Pandemic Standard for Finding of Good-Cause Delays Under Speedy-Trial Rule

2023 Ark. 55

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: March 30, 2023
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2023 Ark. 55 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS IN RE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 Opinion Delivered: March 30, 2023 PANDEMIC––RETURN TO PRE- PANDEMIC STANDARD FOR FINDING OF GOOD-CAUSE DELAYS UNDER SPEEDY-TRIAL RULE

PER CURIAM

Today, the court announces a return to the pre-COVID-19-pandemic standard for

the finding of “good-cause” delays for speedy-trial purposes. Generally, when a defendant

makes a prima facie showing of a speedy-trial violation, the burden shifts to the State to show

that the delay was the result of the defendant’s conduct or was otherwise justified pursuant

to one or more of the excludable periods outlined in Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure

28.3. E.g., State v. Crawford, 373 Ark. 95, 281 S.W.3d 736 (2008). One of the excludable

periods outlined in Rule 28.3 is a “period[] of delay for good cause.” Ark. R. Crim. P. 28.3(h).

Thus, prior to the pandemic, the State bore the burden of proving “good cause” to exclude

a period of delay under subsection (h). During the pandemic, however, this court suspended

in-person proceedings and jury trials at various times and instituted a presumption that

delays “due to precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic” constitute “good cause” under

Rule 28.3(h). See In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic—Resumption of Jury Trials, 2021 Ark.

72, at 2 (per curiam); In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 384, at 3 (per

curiam); In re Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020 Ark. 116, at 3 (per curiam). Due to the waning of the pandemic, the court finds that the presumption instituted

in favor of the State for periods of delay due to precautions against COVID-19 is no longer

necessary. Effective immediately, future delays due to COVID-19 precautions will no longer

be presumed “good cause.” As was required before the pandemic, when a defendant presents

a prima facie showing of a speedy-trial violation, the State will bear the burden of proving

whether any delay constitutes “good cause” without the benefit of any presumption.

The court understands that COVID-19 precautions may have resulted in recent

continuances that are ongoing. In cases where the most recent continuance was granted due

to COVID-19 precautions, the State shall continue to enjoy the presumption of “good cause”

until (i) the date on which any other continuance is granted, or (ii) the date on which the

case is currently set for trial, whichever occurs first.

It is so ORDERED.