Opinion
CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 2:07CR193-P-B.
May 12, 2008
ORDER
This cause is before the Court on defendant Hamlin's Motion for Continuance [16]. The Court, having reviewed the motion and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, finds as follows, to-wit:
The trial of this matter is currently set for May 19, 2008. Hamlin's counsel seeks a continuance in order to complete additional investigation and facilitate the filing and hearing of pretrial motions. The government does not oppose the requested continuance. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that the motion is well-taken and should be granted.
The above circumstances enable the Court to exclude, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(8)(A), the period of delay from May 19, 2008 until the new trial date to be set in this matter. The time is excludable under subsection (h)(8)(A) because, given the circumstances described above, a continuance is necessary to afford defendant additional time to investigate and prepare a defense to the charges at issue. Therefore, the ends of justice served by the granting of this continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that
1. The defendant's Motion for Continuance [19] is GRANTED;
2. That the trial of this matter is continued until Monday, July 7, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in the United States District Courthouse in Greenville, Mississippi;
3. That the delay from May 19, 2008 until July 7, 2008 is excluded as set out above;
4. That the deadline for filing pretrial motions is June 16, 2008;
5. That the deadline for submitting a plea agreement is June 23, 2008.
SO ORDERED.