Opinion
Mag. 21-6014 (DEA)
12-29-2023
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. FORD F. GRAHAM
Martha K. Nye Andrea Bergman. Esq.
Martha K. Nye
Andrea Bergman. Esq.
ORDER FOR A CONTINUANCE
HON. DOUGLAS E. ARPERT, JUDGE
This matter having come before the Court on the joint application of Philip R. Sellinger, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey (by Martha K. Nye, Assistant United States Attorney), and defendant Ford F. Graham (by Andrea Bergman, Esq.), for an order granting a continuance of the proceedings in the above-captioned matter from the date this Order is signed through February 28, 2024 to permit defense counsel the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation in this matter and to allow the parties to discuss the matter and conduct plea negotiations in an effort to resolve the case before grand jury proceedings and trial; and the defendant being aware that he has the right to have the matter submitted to a grand jury within 30 days of the date of his arrest pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3161(b); and twelve prior continuances having been entered; and the defendant, through his attorneys, having consented to the continuance; and for good and sufficient cause shown, IT IS THE FINDING OF THIS COURT that this action should be continued for the following reasons:
(1) The parties anticipate exchanging discovery and entering into plea negotiations, which would render any grand jury proceedings and any subsequent trial of this matter unnecessary;
(2) the defendant has consented to the aforementioned continuance;
(3) the grant of a continuance will likely conserve judicial resources; and
(4) Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3161(h)(7), the ends of justice served by granting the continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.
WHEREFORE, it is on this 29th day of December, 2024;
ORDERED that this action be, and it hereby is, continued from the date this Order is signed through February 28, 2024; and it is further
ORDERED that the period from the date this Order is signed through February 28, 2024 shall be excludable in computing time under the Speedy Trial Act of 1974.
ORDERED that nothing in this Order or the application prompting it is a finding or representation that less than 31 non-excludable days under § 3161(h) have expired.