People v. Juan R.

*401OPINION OF THE COURT

Richard Lee Price, J.

This case is an unusual one and presents issues of first impression in this State. It is but the tip of the iceberg in AIDS-related litigation and raises the question of the clash between a defendant’s right to a speedy trial and his right to privacy of his medical condition.

The matter was sent to this court to resolve this very question because the delay caused by litigating the privacy issue extended beyond the speedy trial time limits. Defendant argues that the time spent protecting and enforcing his right to privacy should be charged to the People…