Walker v. State

NAHMIAS, Justice.

Appellant Lillian Walker challenges the trial court’s denial of her motion for discharge and acquittal under the speedy trial statute for capital cases, OCGA § 17-7-171. This case requires us to decide whether, following a defendant’s demand for speedy trial, OCGA § 17-7-171 (b) requires only two, or more than two, full terms of court to pass without a trial before the defendant is entitled to discharge and acquittal (assuming the other requirements of the statute have been met). Although several prior appellate decisions involving OCGA § 17-7-171 have said in dicta that only…