The court need only consider the issue of speedy trial if raised by the defendant.

The court need only consider the issue of speedy trial if raised by the defendant.

• A. Only in capital cases
• B. Speedy trial applies to all cases automatically
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (C)

Speedy trial protections exist to prevent undue delays, but the defense must raise the issue for it to be considered. The court isn’t required to search out delays on its own; it will evaluate a claim only when the defendant timely asserts it—usually by filing a motion or objecting at the appropriate point. Once raised, the judge checks whether the elapsed time and any delays fall within constitutional or statutory limits and applies the proper remedy if a violation is found. If the issue isn’t raised, the right is typically waived and the trial proceeds. This is why the statement is true across all types of cases, not just capital cases.

Speedy trial protections exist to prevent undue delays, but the defense must raise the issue for it to be considered. The court isn’t required to search out delays on its own; it will evaluate a claim only when the defendant timely asserts it—usually by filing a motion or objecting at the appropriate point. Once raised, the judge checks whether the elapsed time and any delays fall within constitutional or statutory limits and applies the proper remedy if a violation is found. If the issue isn’t raised, the right is typically waived and the trial proceeds. This is why the statement is true across all types of cases, not just capital cases.