Opinion
CASE NO. 2:19-cr-464-RAH
04-20-2020
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. HENRY J. STILL
MEMORANDUM OPINION and ORDER
Pending before the Court is the Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial (Doc. 15) filed by Defendant Henry J. Still on April 17, 2020. Jury selection and trial currently are set in this case on the term of court commencing on May 11, 2020. For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant a continuance of the trial pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7).
While the grant of a continuance is left to the sound discretion of the trial judge, United States v. Stitzer, 785 F.2d 1506, 1516 (11th Cir. 1986), the Court is limited by the requirements of the Speedy Trial Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3161 (Act). The Act provides in part:
In any case in which a plea of not guilty is entered, the trial of a defendant charged in an information or indictment with the commission of an offense shall commence within seventy days from the filing date (and making public) of the information or indictment, or from the date the defendant has appeared before a judicial officer of the court in which such charge is pending, whichever date last occurs.18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1). However, the Act excludes from the seventy-day period any continuance based on "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." § 3161(h)(7)(A). In granting such a continuance, the Court may consider, among other factors, whether the failure to grant the continuance "would deny counsel for the defendant or the attorney for the Government the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence." § 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv).
Counsel for Still represents that additional time is necessary to enter a plea and/or prepare for trial. Due to the national emergency declared by the President as the result of the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the stay in place order issued by the Governor of the State of Alabama, counsel is unable to meet with the Defendant. Although Still plans to enter a plea, it is currently impracticable for him to attend a plea hearing via video teleconference. The United States does not oppose a continuance.
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and for good cause, the Court finds that the ends-of-justice served by granting a continuance of this trial outweigh the best interest of the public and the Defendant in a speedy trial. Thus, for good cause, it is
ORDERED as follows:
(1) Jury selection and trial are CONTINUED from May 11, 2020 to the next criminal term of court commencing on August 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in
Montgomery, Alabama. All deadlines tied to the trial date are adjusted accordingly.
(2) The United States Magistrate Judge shall conduct a pretrial conference prior to the August trial term.
DONE, this 20th day of April, 2020.
/s/ R. Austin Huffaker, Jr.
R. AUSTIN HUFFAKER, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE