State v. Morris

— At issue is the proper interpretation of Washington’s intrastate detainers statute, RCW 9.98. Under RCW 9.98.010, prisoners incarcerated within the state have a right to trial within 120 days on unrelated charges pending within the state. The statute requires this speedy disposition upon a prisoner’s request for trial. We must decide at what point the 120-day period commences — when the prisoner transmits a request for trial to the superintendent having custody of the prisoner, or when the prosecutor and superior court actually receive the request for trial.

The Court of Appeals adopted the…