Doggett v. United States
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 505 U.S. 647 (1992)
- Topics
- Speedy Trial
What did the court decide?
The Court held that an eight-and-a-half-year delay between indictment and arrest, caused by the government's negligence, violated the right to a speedy trial, even though the defendant could not point to specific harm to his defense.
Why does it matter?
Very long delays can be presumed harmful, and government negligence counts against the government.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.