THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
JAMES MCCOY, APPELLEE
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The State appeals the trial court's dismissal of a criminal charge based on violation of the speedy trial rule. The appellate court reverses, holding that the defendant was not continuously available for trial because his court-appointed counsel was unavailable, trying another case, and no substitute counsel was identified until after the speedy trial deadline had passed.
The defendant was not continuously available for trial because his court-appointed counsel was unavailable trying another case, and the trial court's accommodation of this unavailability was made without knowledge that substitute counsel would be available. The after-the-fact representation that another attorney could handle the trial cannot cure the lack of continuous availability.
[1] A defendant is not continuously available for trial when their counsel is engaged in another trial before a different judge.
[2] A defendant's speedy trial rights are not violated when delays are necessitated by the unavailability of their counsel, even if another attorney could have tried the case…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The pivotal question determinative of this appeal is whether or not, under the facts of this case, the defendant was continuously available for trial within the meaning of Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.191(e). We find he was not, and reverse.”
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe defendant was arrested on December 16, 1977, with a trial deadline of June 14, 1978 under Florida's speedy trial rule. Trial was scheduled for the…
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SCHULZ, GEORGE E. (Ret.), Associate Judge.
The State of Florida brings this appeal, seeking review of an order of the trial court dismissing the cause and discharging the defendant for failure of the State to comply with the speedy trial rule. Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.191.
The pivotal question determinative of this appeal is whether or not, under the facts of this case, the defendant was continuously available for trial within the meaning of Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.191(e). We find he was not, and reverse.
The defendant was arrested on December 16, 1977 and was to be tried no later than June 14, 1978 in order to comply with the speedy trial rule. As a result of delays and continuances, not chargeable to the defendant, trial was ultimately set for the week of June 12, 1978. On the morning of June 12, defendant’s counsel appeared and announced he was ready for trial but that he was trying another case before another judge, which he said would be finished in two days. On that representation, the trial court postponed trial and requested that defense counsel check in with the court each morning. This defense counsel did on June 13 and 14, each time informing the trial judge he had not completed trial of his other case. Each day the trial court postponed trial; at no time did the defendant’s court-appointed counsel indicate to the court that anyone other than himself was to handle the trial of the cause. On June 15, defendant’s court-appointed counsel and another attorney (who was formerly associated with court-appointed counsel and had worked on the case) appeared before the trial court, claiming at that time that 181 days had passed since arrest and that the speedy trial rule had run. It was claimed at this time that the second attorney was available at all times to try the cause. Based on that allegation, the trial court entered the order appealed dismissing the cause and discharging the defendant for failure to grant a speedy trial.
Under these facts, it is evident that the defendant was not continuously available for trial within the meaning of Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.191(e) and was not entitled to discharge. The record clearly shows trial was delayed to accommodate court-appointed defense counsel, who was unavailable for trial as he was down the hall trying another case. This accommodation was made without knowledge that someone else would be available to try the cause. The fact that court-appointed counsel was down the hall trying another case shows he was not continuously available for trial [State v. Exposito, 327 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)], which cannot be cured by an after the fact representation that another attorney was available to handle the trial.
Accordingly, the order of dismissal is hereby reversed, and the cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.
Reversed and remanded, with directions.
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- Penelope Gay Sheppard v. Ramada INN, Inc., 327 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)
- State v. Exposito, 327 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 3d DCA 1976)