State v. Burch

34 Fla. Supp. 2d 36
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedApril 21, 1989
DocketCase No. 87-7-AP (County Court Case No. 87-30823-MM)
StatusPublished

This text of 34 Fla. Supp. 2d 36 (State v. Burch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Burch, 34 Fla. Supp. 2d 36 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

A. C. SOUD, JR., Circuit Judge.

FACTS

Defendant/Appellee was arrested on July 30 or 31, 1986, was charged by information with the crime of DUI and executed a waiver of speedy trial. The State elected not to prosecute the case on two occasions, after jury selection but before the swearing in, due to the unavailability of the same State’s witness, and moved for continuances. [37]*37Subsequently, in June, 1987, the State chose to nol pros the case rather than proceed to trial after the trial court denied the State’s second request for continuance. On July 17, 1987, the State filed a new information on the same offense and criminal episode. Defendant moved for discharge and the motion was denied on November 2, 1987.

On January 19, 1988, a jury was selected but not sworn in; trial was set for January 22, 1988. On January 22 the Court was informed that the State was ready for trial. Defendant was allowed by the Court to renew and re-argue the Motion for Discharge of the previous November. Defendant informed the trial court, for the first time, that a key witness was unavailable to testify. Defendant did not move for continuance.

The trial court granted Defendant’s amended oral Motion for Discharge and entered a written order on January 27, 1988. The court made specific findings that the numerous delays in the case had directly resulted from the prosecution’s failure to proceed with the case, not from any delay caused by Defendant, and that the Defendant’s constitutional rights to be tried within a reasonable time had been violated. The State appealed.

ISSUES

1) Whether Defendant’s constitutional rights to speedy trial were violated;

a) Whether defense attorney’s bare assertion of witness unavailability was a sufficient showing of unavailability;

b) Whether prejudice to Defendant reached a level of unconstitutionality;

2) Whether the trial court’s decision is supported by substantial competent evidence.

DISCUSSION

A. Constitutional Rights to Speedy Trial

Defendant, early on, waived the right to precedural speedy trial as guaranteed by Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.191. Accordingly, the constitutional standard of “reasonableness” applies. State ex rel. Butler v Cullen, 253 So.2d 861 (Fla. 1971). The United States Supreme Court espoused a four-part analysis for determining whether a speedy trial violation has occurred because of delay; 1) length of delay; 2) reason for delay; 3) whether Defendant timely asserted his rights; and 4) existence of actual prejudice as a result of delay. See, Barker v Wingo, 407 U.S. 524, 92 S.Ct. 2182 (1972); State v Trimel, 387 So.2d 528 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980). [38]*38No particular factor is dispositive in a given case, and each factor should be balanced against the others. No single factor is either necessary or sufficient as a prerequisite to finding a denial of rights. See Howell v State, 418 So.2d 1164, 1171 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982).

1. Length of Delay

Defendant was entitled to be brought to trial only within a reasonable time. State ex rel. Butler v Cullen, 253 So.2d 861 (Fla. 1971). When a defendant is granted a continuance, Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.191(a)(2) gives him the right to make a demand to be brought to trial within 60 days, even if the defendant has otherwise waived speedy trial rights. See Butterworth v Fluellen, 389 So.2d 968, 970 (Fla. 1980). Where, as in the instant cause, a defendant fails to make a demand, that failure may be considered by trial court when determining whether an unreasonable delay occurred. Butterworth.

After Defendant waived speedy trial, and the information was nol pressed by the State, the waiver carried over and remained in effect as to the new information. See Condon, 444 So.2d at 74; Trimel, 387 So.2d at 528. The speedy trial rule was revived subsequently, however, when the trial court denied Defendant’s Motion for Discharge on November 2, 1987. See Condon; State v Kerper, 393 So.2d 77, 78 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981). Denial of the motion triggered the 90-day time period within which a defendant must be brought to trial pursuant to Fla.R.Crim.P. 3.191(d)(3). See Butterworth, 389 So.2d at 970.

The relevant time period in the pretrial proceedings, for speedy trial purposes, was the period from denial of the Motion for Discharge (November 2, 1987) to the time when trial was scheduled to commence (January 22, 1988), a period of approximately 80 days, and within the permissible limits of Rule 3.191(d)(3). Accordingly, Defendant cannot base any alleged impermissible delay on the above timetable followed by the trial court.

Although the United States Supreme Court stated in dicta in Barker that none of the four prongs is a necessary condition or is dispositive by itself to a finding of a violation, see id. at 533, 92 S.Ct. at 2193, and Avalos, 541 F.2d at 1111 n.19, the High Court viewed length of delay as “a triggering mechanism.” Without some delay which is presumptively prejudicial, no need exists for inquiry into the other three factors. See, Barker, 407 U.S. at 530, 90 S.Ct. at 2192.

In the absence of competent substantial evidence demonstrating that the length of delay in the proceedings constituted an impermissible violation of Defendant’s constitutional right to speedy trial, the appel[39]*39late court should hold that the trial court erred and that the order discharging Defendant should be reversed.

On the other hand, if the length of delay is presumptively prejudicial, see Howell, a full Barker analysis is needed. See, e.g., State v Ochran, 429 So.2d 77 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983) (despite the interval between time of offense and arrest, trial court order dismissing information was reversed in absence of evidence of intentional delay or showing of any actual prejudice resulting from delay). The State has the burden of demonstrating that the defendant has not been prejudiced by the unexcused delays. See Avalos, 541 F.2d at 1116.

2. Reason for Delay

Three categories exist for this second factor: 1) deliberate delay, 2) negligent delay, and 3) justified delay. Avalos, supra. Absent any indications that the State’s delays were deliberate or justified, “negligent delay” is the only category relevant to the instant matter. The trial court specifically stated on the record that the repeated delays resulted from unexcused prosecutorial mismanagement of the case. The State repeatedly sought continuances grounded on the non-availability of a witness, the intoxilyzer operator. The trial court expressly noted that “[t]he State could have gone forward at the time with their evidence of the other witnesses involved,” as the police officer was not a material witness [R-60]. If the delay is perpetrated by the State, even without any devious intent, the State must bear the burden of fault. Barker, 407 U.S. at 531, 92 S.Ct. at 2192; U.S. v Greer, 655 F.2d 51, 53 (5th Cir. 1981).

The Florida procedural speedy trial rule contains analogous provisions. See Fla.R.Crim.P.

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Related

Barker v. Wingo
407 U.S. 514 (Supreme Court, 1972)
Dillingham v. United States
423 U.S. 64 (Supreme Court, 1975)
United States v. Curtis Edward Greer
655 F.2d 51 (Fifth Circuit, 1981)
Terrell v. State
407 So. 2d 1039 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1981)
Applegate v. Barnett Bank of Tallahassee
377 So. 2d 1150 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1979)
Butterworth in and for Broward Cty. v. Fluellen
389 So. 2d 968 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1980)
Howell v. State
418 So. 2d 1164 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1982)
McClain v. State
411 So. 2d 316 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1982)
State Ex Rel. Butler v. Cullen
253 So. 2d 861 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1971)
Castlewood International Corporation v. LaFleur
322 So. 2d 520 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1975)
Mercer v. Raine
443 So. 2d 944 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1983)
State v. Trimel
387 So. 2d 528 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1980)
State v. Kerper
393 So. 2d 77 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1981)
State v. Wallace
401 So. 2d 863 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1981)
State v. Ochran
429 So. 2d 77 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1983)
M. S. D., Inc. v. United States
434 F. Supp. 85 (N.D. Ohio, 1977)

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Bluebook (online)
34 Fla. Supp. 2d 36, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-burch-flacirct-1989.