State v. Spearman

OPINION

BOSSON, Justice.

{1} Speedy trial analysis under the United States Constitution requires a balancing and weighing of several factors, including the length of delay, the cause of the delay, timely assertion of the right, and prejudice to the accused. When, as here, one of those factors — in this case the cause of the delay — weighs heavily against the State based on its own dilatory and deceptive conduct in prosecuting the case, the district court justly may dismiss the charges even though the remaining factors favor the accused only slightly. The district court did so in this instance,…