McGowan v. State

Rudolph McGowan appeals from a trial court order denying his motion for discharge and acquittal for violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. Because the order is insufficient for us to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion, we vacate the judgment and remand for the entry of an order applying the analysis employed in Barker v. Wingo , 407 U. S. 514 92 SC 2182, 33 LE2d 101 1972. McGowan was arrested on May 10, 2006, and subsequently indicted on December 14, 2006. McGowan filed a demand for speedy trial on March 2, 2007, but withdrew that demand days later when informed that the State planned to reindict the case. The State reindicted McGowan on March 12, 2007 for attempt to traffick in marijuana and illegal use of a communication device. On March 19, 2009, McGowan filed a plea in bar for discharge and acquittal for violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. Following a hearing, the trial court summarily denied McGowan’s motion in a two-sentence order. In Barker v. Wingo , the Supreme Court of the United States identified four factors to be considered by a court in determining whether an accused’s constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated a the length of the delay, b the reason for the delay, c the defendant’s assertion of his right, and d the prejudice to the defendant. The Supreme Court further stated that it regarded none of the factors as either a necessary or sufficient condition to a finding of a deprivation of the right of speedy trial but rather that the factors should be considered together in a balancing test of the conduct of the prosecution and the defendant. Citation and punctuation omitted. Boseman v. State , 263 Ga. 730, 731 1 438 SE2D 626 1994.