Opinion
24-CR-230-JFH
08-08-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. MEKHI MONTEZ MORRISON, Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
JOHN F. HEIL, III, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court is an Unopposed Motion for Continued Scheduling Order (“Motion”) filed by Defendant Mekhi Montez Morrison (“Defendant”). Dkt. No. 16. The Motion states that the Government does not oppose the requested continuance. Id. at 1. For the reasons set forth below, the Motion is GRANTED.
The Motion falls under § 3161(h)(7)(A) of the Speedy Trial Act. This section permits a federal district court to exclude any period of delay resulting from a continuance if “the judge granted such continuance on the basis of his findings that the ends of justice served by taking such action outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). A court must orally or in writing set forth its reasons for granting an ends of justice continuance and make findings that a continuance is in the best interest of the defendant and the public. Id. The statute permits a court to consider whether “the failure to grant such a continuance ... would deny counsel for the defendant ... the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence.” Id. at § 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv). The Tenth Circuit has been clear that an ends of justice continuance should not be granted “cavalierly” and it was intended to be a “rarely used tool.” United States v. Williams, 511 F.3d 1044, 1048-49 (10th Cir. 2007).
In United States v. Toombs, 574 F.3d 1262 (10th Cir. 2009), the Tenth Circuit limited the circumstances in which an ends of justice continuance can be granted and emphasized that this should be a rarely used procedural tool. The parties must provide the district court a sufficient record to determine why the facts stated in a motion for continuance “result[] in the need for additional time.” Id. at 1271. This requires the parties to provide specific information about the need for a continuance, and the district court may need to hold a hearing before granting an ends of justice continuance. Id. at 1272-73. A district court must also give significant weight to the public's interest in a speedy trial, and the public's interest is generally served by strict adherence to the requirements of the Speedy Trial Act. Id. at 1273.
Defendant requests additional time because counsel requires additional time to examine discovery, investigate the facts and potential defenses, and work toward an agreed resolution of this matter. Dkt. No. 16. Defendant Morrison has executed a speedy trial waiver, asking the Court to exclude any period of delay for an ends of justice continuance. Dkt. No. 15. This is the first request for continuance of the trial date in this matter.
In addition to considering Defendant's interests, the Court has considered the public's interest in the speedy resolution of criminal cases and finds that a limited ends of justice continuance will not subvert the public's interest in the prompt prosecution of criminal matters.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motion to Extend Scheduling Order Deadlines filed at Dkt. No. 26 is GRANTED. The jury trial set September 16, 2024 at 8:45 a.m. is stricken. The following amended scheduling order is hereby entered:
Joint status report regarding production of discovery filed: 9/26/2024
Notices filed: 9/26/2024
This includes all notices required by the Rules of Criminal Procedure and Evidence,
including but not limited to, notices pursuant to Rule 16, 404(b), 412, 413, 414, or 609.
Motions to dismiss for insufficient indictment filed: 9/26/2024
Motions and objections to notices filed: 10/3/2024
Absent good cause, motions in limine shall be filed by this date Motions for bill of particulars shall be filed pursuant to FRCrP 7(f)
Pretrial conference: 10/24/2024 at 9:30 am
Voir dire, jury instructions, stipulations, & trial briefs filed: 11/1/2024
Witness and exhibit lists exchanged between counsel and emailed to courtroom deputy (do not file): 11/7/2024 by 4:00 pm
Three hard-copy exhibit binders delivered to Court: 11/7/2024 by 4:00 pm
Jury trial: 11/12/2024 at 8:45 am
Due to the Court's multi-district caseload, this schedule is relatively inflexible.
Pursuant to LCrR 12.1(E), any response shall be filed within seven days of any motion's filing. Replies are not permitted without leave of Court. If leave is granted, replies shall be limited to five pages.
Only one omnibus motion in limine per party and one motion to suppress per defendant is permitted without leave of Court.
The Court shall summarily deny without prejudice any motion that does not comply with LCrR 12.1(B), which requires a motion state on the first page whether or not opposing counsel objects to the motion.
The parties should meet and confer in good faith to discuss any stipulations that would streamline the issues at trial. Any stipulations agreed to should be submitted by the date listed.
If the parties anticipate a lengthy pretrial/motion hearing, they are directed to promptly contact the Courtroom Deputy and the hearing will be reset.
If the parties anticipate a plea of guilty, they are directed to promptly contact the Courtroom Deputy and a change of plea hearing (separate from the pretrial docket call) will be set. The parties must provide a petition to enter plea of guilty and any plea agreement (if applicable) to the Court and file any superseding information (if applicable) at least three business days prior to the change of plea hearing.
The parties are encouraged to review the Court's Criminal Guidelines.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the time from September 16, 2024, inclusive, to November 12, 2024, inclusive, is excludable pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7).