Camacho v. Superior Court

Summary

The court held that an alleged sexually violent predator has a federal due process right to a timely commitment trial, evaluated under a flexible four-factor balancing framework addressing delay length, reasons, assertion of the right, and prejudice. Although the more-than-decade delay was extraordinarily long, the defense primarily caused or agreed to the continuances, Camacho did not show that he sought an earlier trial, and the delay did not substantially impair his defense. The court also held that due process did not require Camacho's personal presence at every hearing and affirmed the Court of Appeal's judgment.