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Senate Judiciary hears mixed views on S.1278 to speed resolution of old misdemeanors
Summary
Prosecutors told the Senate Judiciary that existing speedy-trial rules and court calendaring, not new law, are the main barriers to clearing backlogs; sponsors said S.1278 would force accountability for very old cases unless amended.
The Senate Judiciary heard testimony on S.1278 on Jan. 7 as lawmakers considered measures to accelerate resolution of long-pending misdemeanor cases.
Kim Panos of the Department of State's Attorneys and Sheriffs told the committee the department shares concern about the backlog but does not believe the bill, as written, addresses the root causes. "We don't like having cases that are just lingering," Panos said, adding that the state already has tools to address delay, including speedy-trial practice and court rules.
The bill's sponsor and the committee chair argued that some cases — particularly nonviolent misdemeanors that have been on…
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