Alexander v. State

The majority has reached a result that is inevitable and necessarily correct, however regrettable it may be that one who seems to have been guilty of the crime with which he was charged beyond a reasonable doubt will escape punishment. It is the primary function of the judicial system to preserve the rule of law, even if the guilty do escape punishment as a result of the courts’ facing up to their responsibility.

This court has spoken on the purpose of speedy trial rules in reference to Ark. Stat. Ann. § 43-1708 (Repl. 1977). In Ware v. State, 159 Ark. 540, 252 S.W. 934, we said:

*** But, as…