United States v. Tommy Roberts

The Supreme Court in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514, 522 (1972), made it very clear that “the unsatisfactorily severe remedy of dismissal of the indictment” was not intended to reward a defendant who has failed to assert his right to a speedy trial. That is especially so where “[c]ounsel was appointed for [the defendant] immediately after his indictment and represented him throughout the period” and where “[n]o question is raised as to the competency of such counsel.” Id. at 534. The Court could hardly have been more emphatic, in evaluating the factors to be weighed to determine whether a…