Mosley v. People

Citations

• 2017 CO 20
• 392 P.3d 1198
• 2017 WL 1321234

Syllabus

Criminal Trials—Speedy Trial—Continuances. The Supreme Court reviewed the Court of Appeals' construction of Colorado's speedy trial statute, CRS § 18-1-405. The Court rejected Mosley's contention that the exclusions of time listed in subsection (6) of the statute apply only to the speedy trial calculation for an initial trial, and not for a new trial following reversal of a conviction on appeal under subsection (2). The Court concluded that subsection (1) of the statute establishes the basic right to a speedy trial, and that subsection (2) clarifies that right by identifying the trial court's receipt of the mandate as the event that triggers the six-month speedy trial period for a new trial following reversal of a conviction on appeal. Because a defendant's speedy trial right—whether in an initial trial or on retrial—derives from subsection (1), the exclusions of time listed in subsection (6) apply to both an initial trial and a new trial following reversal of a conviction on appeal. The Court further rejected Mosley's contention that the trial court erred in granting a continuance and extending the speedy trial deadline in this case. The Court therefore affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeals.