Bruce v. State

VEASEY, Chief Justice.

In this appeal, we address the question whether a request for a continuance by a defendant in a criminal case operates as a waiver of the defendant’s right to a trial within 180 days under the Interstate Agreement on Detainers. We hold that a defendant waives the right to a speedy trial under the detainer agreement only if the defendant expressly agrees to or acquiesces in a trial date outside the 180-day time limit. Thus, where the defendant requests a continuance but does not agree to a trial date outside the time limit, the time limit is tolled. Because the defendant…