Hatcher v. State

The issue presented on this appeal is whether the trial court erred in refusing to permit the defendant to withdraw his guilty plea on the grounds that the defendant had been denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

It is a general principle of criminal law that a guilty plea, voluntarily and understanding^ made, constitutes a waiver of various defects and defenses arising from events preceding the plea. Among the defenses which are waived by a guilty plea are those which may be based upon constitutional grounds. Brady v. United States, 397 U.S. 742 (1970). This court has applied…