People v. Wells

Defendant, Norval Wells, awaits trial in Madison County. It is a long-awaited trial. Defendant has been a prisoner in the Madison County jail for almost four years.

The wait must continue. There will be no trial in the foreseeable future — at least not until the State obtains review of a new order suppressing evidence critical to its case. Trial has been postponed indefinitely to accommodate the State’s right to pursue a second interlocutory appeal.

Defendant was extradited from Colorado in 1992 to face a murder charge. On February 8,1996, defendant raised a plea for freedom under Supreme Court…