State v. Parrish

2011 NMCA 033, 252 P.3d 730, 149 N.M. 506
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 19, 2011
Docket29,058
StatusPublished
Cited by45 cases

This text of 2011 NMCA 033 (State v. Parrish) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Parrish, 2011 NMCA 033, 252 P.3d 730, 149 N.M. 506 (N.M. Ct. App. 2011).

Opinion

OPINION

GARCIA, Judge.

{1} Defendant Terry Parrish was charged with aggravated driving while under the influence (DUI) and failure to have an operating license plate lamp. See NMSA 1978, § 66-8-102(D)(3) (2004) (amended 2010); NMSA 1978, § 66-3-805 (1978). The State appeals the district court’s order dismissing Defendant’s charges based upon a violation of Defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. We hold that Defendant’s right to a speedy trial was not violated. As a result, we reverse the district court and remand Defendant’s case for trial.

BACKGROUND

{2} Defendant was arrested on November 24, 2006, issued both DUI and traffic citations, and instructed to appear in magistrate court upon the court’s order. After posting a $1,750 bond, Defendant was released approximately seven and one-half hours later with eight restrictions, including not leaving Doña Ana County without permission of the court, not possessing firearms or dangerous weapons, and not possessing or consuming alcohol or entering liquor establishments.

{3} On November 28, 2006, the State filed a criminal complaint in magistrate court, charging Defendant with aggravated DUI and failure to have an operating license plate lamp. On January 24, 2007, the State refiled those same charges in district court and then dismissed the charges in magistrate court two days later. Defendant waived arraignment in district court and entered a plea of not guilty on February 8, 2007. The district court set Defendant’s bond at $1,000 and imposed twelve restrictions, including not driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

{4} The next four months included discovery, substitution of counsel, and reassignment of judges. On February 22, 2007, the State produced discovery, identified witnesses, and requested discovery from Defendant. The State substituted counsel on March 15, 2007. Additionally, on April 10, 2007, the district court reassigned Defendant’s case from the Honorable Douglas R. Driggers to the Honorable Michael T. Murphy for administrative reasons.

{5} In June 2007, Defendant’s trial was scheduled for August 2, 2007. The parties agree that neither of them received notice of the trial. According to the State, on June 7, 2007, the district court misinformed the State that trial could not be held before the expiration of the six-month rule on August 8, 2007, and advised the State to request an extension of time. Consequently, the State filed a petition for an extension of time on August 1, 2007. At a hearing on August 10, 2007, the district court denied the State’s petition for an extension of time and issued an oral ruling dismissing Defendant’s case for violation of the six-month rule pursuant to Rule 5-604 NMRA (2007). The State subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration, and Defendant filed a motion to dismiss for violation of the six-month rule. On September 7, 2007, the district court heard both motions and issued oral rulings denying the State’s motion for reconsideration and granting Defendant’s motion to dismiss. The district court entered a written order dismissing the charges against Defendant with prejudice on September 24, 2007.

{6} The State appealed the district court’s denial of its petition for extension of time and order of dismissal on September 26, 2007. On March 11, 2008, this Court filed a memorandum opinion reversing the district court, reasoning that judicial error constituted good cause for an extension of time. This Court then issued a mandate to the district court for further proceedings on May 5, 2008.

{7} On May 7, 2008, the State requested a trial setting, and trial was subsequently scheduled for July 10, 2008. On the morning of trial, Defendant orally moved to dismiss his case on speedy trial grounds. Defendant testified that he was concerned about how a DUI conviction might affect his job and membership in a volunteer professional organization, and that he also experienced hardship caused by the Motor Vehicle Department’s suspension of his driver’s license. The district court issued an oral ruling dismissing Defendant’s charges on speedy trial grounds and thereafter entered a written order of dismissal on October 17, 2008. The court entered the following findings: Defendant’s case was a simple case in which the applicable guideline for a presumption of prejudice was nine months, Defendant’s case had been pending for over eleven months at the time of the scheduled trial, Defendant’s testimony regarding the prejudice caused by the delay was credible, and Defendant did not make a written demand for a speedy trial. As a result, the court dismissed Defendant’s case for violation of his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial, and the State appealed.

DISCUSSION

{8} The State argues that the district court erred in determining that Defendant’s speedy trial right was violated. Specifically, the State contends that the length of delay was not presumptively prejudicial. The State further argues that even if this Court determines that the delay was presumptively prejudicial, Defendant’s speedy trial right was not violated because he failed to assert his right and was not prejudiced by the delay.

A. Sixth Amendment Right to a Speedy Trial

{9} The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.” U.S. Const, amend. VI. Thus, the speedy trial right is implicated “when the defendant becomes an accused, that is, by a filing of a formal indictment or information or arrest and holding to answer.” State v. Maddox, 2008-NMSC-062, ¶ 10, 145 N.M. 242, 195 P.3d 1254 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). “The heart of the right to a speedy trial is preventing prejudice to the accused.” State v. Garza, 2009-NMSC-038, ¶ 12, 146 N.M. 499, 212 P.3d 387. The right includes three core concerns: (1) preventing undue and oppressive pre-trial incarceration prior to trial, (2) minimizing the anxiety and concern associated with public accusation, and (3) limiting the possibilities that long delay will impair the defense of the accused. Id.

{10} In analyzing whether Defendant’s speedy trial right was violated, we review the particular facts and circumstances to determine whether an “actual and articulable deprivation” of Defendant’s right to a speedy trial occurred. Id. ¶¶ 11-12. We conduct our analysis by balancing four factors: (1) the length of the delay in bringing the defendant to trial, (2) the reasons for the delay, (3) the defendant’s assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and (4) the actual prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the delay. Id. ¶ 13 (relying on Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 530, 92 S.Ct. 2182, 33 L.Ed.2d 101 (1972)). Although we defer to the district court’s factual findings, we review de novo the question of whether a violation of a defendant’s speedy trial right occurred. State v. Valencia, 2010-NMCA-005, ¶ 11, 147 N.M. 432, 224 P.3d 659. We evalúate speedy trial claims on a case-by-case basis, independently balancing the four factors and considering no individual factor as talismanic. Id. Over time, the balancing test has been adapted to the varying circumstances presented in each case involving a claim of a speedy trial violation.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2011 NMCA 033, 252 P.3d 730, 149 N.M. 506, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-parrish-nmctapp-2011.