The People, Plaintiff and Respondent v. Michael Jerome Sutton, Defendants and Appellants

Summary

The court held that appointed counsel's unexpected continued engagement in another trial constituted good cause to delay the defendants' joint trial beyond the statutory 60-day period, despite their refusal to waive time. It also held that the state interests in maintaining a joint trial constituted good cause to delay the available codefendant's trial for the brief period necessary to try both defendants together. The court affirmed the Court of Appeal and disapproved contrary authority to the extent it categorically rejected those grounds for delay.