George Zimmerman Waives Right to Speedy Trial

By Edward Tan, JD on May 09, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Accused murderer George Zimmerman has waived his right to a speedy trial, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, filed the motion with the court. He also filed a second one asking for more time to prepare his defense. Both motions state the prosecution isn't objecting to Zimmerman's requests.

So why would someone want to waive their right to a speedy trial? The answer isn't as crazy as you might think.

Waiving one's right to a speedy trial is pretty routine. Generally, the move falls more into trial strategy than a lawyer's incompetence.

The right to a speedy trial is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It ensures that defendants will be brought to trial for their alleged crimes within a reasonable period of time after arrest. It also gives them the right to a jury trial, depending on the crime.

Under Florida's law, defendants charged with a felony -- like George Zimmerman, who's charged with second-degree murder in Trayvon Martin's killing -- must have their case heard within 175 days. For misdemeanor defendants, it's 90 days.

In general, if a case isn't brought to trial within the time limit, defendants can seek to have their charges dismissed because of undue delay. While that might sound good for the defendant, it doesn't happen too often.

So back to the original question. The reason why most attorneys waive their client's right to a speedy trial is so that they can ask for more time to prepare a defense. That's exactly what O'Mara did, and in general, that's why it's usually done.

However, it's not always the right move. So if you happen to find yourself in a George Zimmerman-like speedy trial dilemma, it may be wise to consult a local attorney to see if waiving your right to a speedy trial is right for you.

Related Resources:

Copied to clipboard