People v. Johnson

The defendant was incarcerated for 18 months awaiting trial on an indictment charging him with murder and possession of a weapon as a misdemeanor. He claims that he repeatedly but unsuccessfully demanded a prompt trial and finally pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree only because, in the interim, an important defense witness moved from the area and could not be located. The delay was caused by a shortage of trial lawyers in the *273prosecutor’s office. The question is whether under these circumstances the State has met its obligation to provide the accused with a speedy trial…