Summary
In People v Timothy (34 N.Y.2d 867) the Court of Appeals affirmed a conviction where the delay from arrest to trial was 29 months, stating, "Delay alone does not automatically breach the defendant's constitutional and statutory rights.
Summary of this case from People v. GuerraOpinion
Argued June 4, 1974
Decided June 26, 1974
Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department, HARRY GITTLESON, J., MICHAEL KERN, J.
Benjamin Heinrich and William E. Hellerstein for appellant.
Eugene Gold, District Attorney ( Martin I. Saperstein of counsel), for respondent.
MEMORANDUM. We affirm the orders of the Appellate Division.
Certainly the 22- and 29-month delays from arrest to trial attending the two indictments here in question were unfortunate and not to be encouraged. However, we are not able to conclude that such delay, by itself, has worked a denial of defendant's Sixth Amendment rights or in any way prejudiced him. Much of the delay during the latter stages was occasioned by defendant's dissatisfaction with several assigned counsel who had to be replaced, and by counsel's other engagements ( People v. Purdy, 29 N.Y.2d 800). During a discussion occurring on the eve of trial defense counsel stated that defendant had largely contributed to the delay. There is, moreover, no indication that defendant or his various counsel voiced objection to those delays brought on at the instance of the prosecution and court ( People v. Prosser, 309 N.Y. 353, 359, 360). Delay alone does not automatically breach the defendant's constitutional and statutory rights. Each such case must be determined on balance, i.e., the conduct of the prosecution and that of the defendant are weighed (see People v. Blakley, 34 N.Y.2d 311). In assessing these cases the courts should especially review events occurring toward the end of the pertinent time period, whether the total period be long or short. If, as here, significant delays are then instigated by the defense, and if earlier delays were justified or not objected to, then defendant normally should have no ground for complaint.
Chief Judge BREITEL and Judges JASEN, GABRIELLI, JONES, WACHTLER and STEVENS concur; Judge RABIN taking no part.
Orders affirmed in a memorandum.