Legal Opinion
United States v. Jeffrey R. MacDonald
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Decided January 23, 1976No. 19-2081PublishedCited by 39 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
BUTZNER, Circuit Judge:
Jeffrey Robert MacDonald appeals from the denial of several motions relating to his prosecution for the 1970 deaths of his wife and two daughters.1 We conclude that the *199delay of four and one-half years, dating from the Army’s accusation and detention of MacDonald in May 1970 to his indictment in January 1975, even when allowances are made for several intervals, violates the right to a speedy trial guaranteed by the sixth amendment.2 We therefore reverse and order dismissal with prejudice.
I
We stayed MacDonald’s trial and allowed this interlocutory appeal pursuant to our…
2Cases cited19 opinions
- Barker v. WingoSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- United States v. MarionSupreme Court of the United States · 1971
- Green v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1957
- Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of KentuckySupreme Court of the United States · 1973
- Klopfer v. North CarolinaSupreme Court of the United States · 1967
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3Cited by39 opinions
- United States v. MacDonaldSupreme Court of the United States · 1982
- United States v. MacDonaldSupreme Court of the United States · 1978
- Commonwealth v. BoldenSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1977
- United States v. William T. MarlerCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1985
- Stewart v. StateCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1978
34 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.