Opinion
Case No. 1:CR-10-268-BLW.
June 21, 2011
ORDER
The Court has before it a motion to continue trial and a motion to suppress filed by defendant. The defendant requests that trial be moved to September or October of 2011 as defense counsel will be seeking to exclude (1) statements made by the defendant and (2) expected testimony from a Government expert, and needs additional time to prepare. The Court finds that a continuance until October 31, 2011, would be reasonable given the complexities of this case.
Under all these circumstances, the Court finds that a continuance is needed to give defense counsel an opportunity to provide an effective defense. Thus, a continuance is warranted under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv) which authorizes a finding of excludable time when the refusal to grant a continuance would "deny counsel for the defendant . . . the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation. . . ." Under these circumstances, the interests of justice in allowing the defense time for effective preparation outweighs the Defendant's and the public's interest in a speedy trial under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
The Court finds that the period of time between the prior trial date and the new trial date is excludable time under the Speedy Trial Act. Accordingly,
NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the Motion for continuance (docket no. 22) filed by Defendant be, and the same is hereby, GRANTED, and that the present trial date be VACATED, and that a new trial be set for October 31, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. in the Federal Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the period of time between the prior trial date and the new trial date be deemed EXCLUDABLE TIME under the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the pretrial conference shall be held on October 20, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. by telephone with the Government to initiate the call. The Court can be reached at 208-334-9145. The defendant need not be on the line as only logistics will be discussed.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a hearing on all pending motions — including an evidentiary hearing on the motion to suppress — be held on September 30, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in the Federal Courthouse in Boise, Idaho.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that the Defendant shall file all pretrial motions on or before August 19, 2011.