Middlebrook v. State

VEASEY, Chief Justice.

In this appeal we consider whether a defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated by a delay of almost four years between indictment and trial. Such an egregious delay is presumptively prejudicial. In this case, the defendant asserted his right to a speedy trial and demonstrated actual prejudice from the delay in the form of oppressive pretrial incarceration and the impairment of his defense. Contributing to the delay was a lengthy period for deciding a suppression motion, transfer of case assignment among several judges and the granting of eleven…