SCOTUS Rejects Petition on Speedy Trial Act, Defendant’s Removal

The US Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal over when the Speedy Trial Act clock begins ticking for defendants who are arrested and detained outside of the district where they’ve been charged.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected Philip Layfield’s speedy trial claim after deciding a 21-day delay between his arrest in New Jersey and his first appearance in California didn’t count toward the 70-day total.

Layfield pointed to a provision of the STA that says a delay of more than 10 days to transport a defendant from another district is presumed unreasonable, ...