Filed: Nov. 05, 2019
Latest Update: Nov. 05, 2019
Summary: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DEBRA C. POPLIN , Magistrate Judge . This case is before the Court on the Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial [Doc. 20], filed by the Government on October 31, 2019, and referred [Doc. 21] to the undersigned on November 1, 2019. See 28 U.S.C. 636(b). The Government asks to continue the November 5, 2019 trial date in this case. It states that this case involves voluminous discovery, including intercepted audio and texted conversations from a Title III wiretap. The mo
Summary: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DEBRA C. POPLIN , Magistrate Judge . This case is before the Court on the Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial [Doc. 20], filed by the Government on October 31, 2019, and referred [Doc. 21] to the undersigned on November 1, 2019. See 28 U.S.C. 636(b). The Government asks to continue the November 5, 2019 trial date in this case. It states that this case involves voluminous discovery, including intercepted audio and texted conversations from a Title III wiretap. The mot..
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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
DEBRA C. POPLIN, Magistrate Judge.
This case is before the Court on the Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial [Doc. 20], filed by the Government on October 31, 2019, and referred [Doc. 21] to the undersigned on November 1, 2019. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). The Government asks to continue the November 5, 2019 trial date in this case. It states that this case involves voluminous discovery, including intercepted audio and texted conversations from a Title III wiretap. The motion relates that the Government is aware that defense counsel need additional time to review the discovery. Additionally, the Government is seeking a superseding indictment in this case, which will bring additional substantive charges. The motion states that defense counsel have informed the Assistant United States Attorney that they do not oppose a trial continuance. The Government notes that Defendant Robinson attempted to file a motion to continue the trial 60 to 90 days.1 The parties have conferred with Chambers and agreed on a new trial date of February 11, 2020.
The Court finds the Government's motion to continue the trial is unopposed and well-taken. The Court also finds that the ends of justice served by granting a continuance outweigh the interest of the Defendants and the public in a speedy trial. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). The Indictment [Doc. 8] charges the Defendants with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and cocaine base, beginning in August 2019 (Count One). Additionally, each Defendant is charged with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on August 28, 2019. The Government is seeking a superseding indictment, which it contends will add substantive charges. The Government also relates that the discovery in this case is voluminous and that defense counsel have related that they need additional time to complete their review of the discovery in this case. The Court finds that without a continuance, defense counsel would not have the reasonable time necessary to prepare for trial, despite counsel's exercise of due diligence. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(iv).
The Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial [Doc. 20] is GRANTED, and the trial is reset to February 11, 2020. The Court finds that all the time between the filing of the motion for a continuance on October 31, 2019, and the new trial date of February 11, 2020, is fully excludable time under the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(D) & -(7)(A)-(B). With regard to additional scheduling in this case, the deadline for filing pretrial motions is extended to December 6, 2019. Responses to pretrial motions are due on or before December 20, 2019. If any motions are filed that require a motion hearing, the parties will be contacted to schedule a motion hearing. The deadline for concluding plea negotiations and providing reciprocal discovery is extended to January 17, 2020. The parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial conference on January 21, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. All motions in limine must be filed no later than January 27, 2020. Special requests for jury instructions shall be filed no later than January 31, 2020, and shall be supported by citations to authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED as follows:
(1) The Unopposed Motion to Continue Trial [Doc. 20] is GRANTED;
(2) The trial of this matter is reset to commence on February 11, 2020, at 9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge;
(3) All time between the filing of the motion on October 31, 2019, and the new trial date of February 11, 2020, is fully excludable time under the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) The deadline for filing pretrial motions is extended to December 6, 2019. Responses to pretrial motions are due on or before December 20, 2019;
(5) The deadline for concluding plea negotiations and providing reciprocal discovery is extended to January 17, 2020;
(6) The parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial conference on January 21, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.;
(7) Motions in limine must be filed no later than January 27, 2020; and
(8) Special requests for jury instructions with appropriate citations shall be filed by January 31, 2020.
IT IS SO ORDERED.