Bill proposes rapid justice for cases of violent crimes.

Birmingham, wing. (WBRC) – The Speedy trial law, a bill drafted by the Office of the Alabama Attorney General, would assign new resources for the criminal courts already backward throughout the State.

The bill proposes to take advantage of retired circuit judges to preside over specific cases to reduce violent crime.

“When there are violent criminals in the streets waiting for these evidence to occur, no one can feel completely safe about what is happening,” said Alabama Attorney Steve Marshall. “This bill is designed not only to allow cases to be heard more quickly, but is really designed to create justice within the system.”

Katherine Robertson, main lawyer of the Attorney General, wrote the bill aimed at cases of backward crimes backward and those that require special attention.

“I think you could see either of them,” Robertson said about the circumstances that could trigger the allocation of special judicial resources. “I think there is a high criminal circuit in which they are too loaded, it is possible that I see (a case) other than a capital murder, but it could be something they really need to get someone behind bars.” On the other hand, in a smaller circuit, you can see a case that has only been sitting too much, which was very violent and has only been waiting there. “

While state criminal courts have always fought with backward cases, COVID-19 slowed down the justice wheels. In fact, many circuits are still working to bring to trial the pre-pondemic criminal cases.

“I have never seen that a case improve as it ages,” Marshall explained. “Witnesses die, witnesses leave the community, there is the opportunity to intimidate those who will testify for those who represent the accused.”

According to the bill, prosecutors would directly notify the President of Justice Sarah Stewart of the case and their need for convenient assistance.

“It provides information, she will make a decision within 30 days,” Robertson added. “If you finally decide to grant that request, the judge will be appointed.”

The Supreme Court has a system to appoint retired judges. This bill creates a system for prosecutors to request this assistance.

“The best thing about our new President of Justice is that it served in the Circuit Bank for a long time, so it has seen everything,” Robertson said.

The bill would create a quick trial fund in the state’s treasure that would fall to cover the costs of additional resources, which would be administered by Stewart.

“We are going to monitor how much this costs,” Robertson confirmed. “We are not creating a new judiciary or hiring new judges. It is possible that there must be a current of financing consistent over time, but we do not anticipate that this is expensive. “

There is no immediate and direct way of measuring the number of cases of violent crimes backward throughout the State and, therefore, anticipating the need for additional resources.

The mayor of Birmingham, Randall Woodfin, recently He told the Birmingham City Council that it takes about three years to obtain a case of murder for trial in Jefferson County.

Marshall says that part of local violence in Birmingham may be directly linked to late cases.

“We can look at Birmingham as a specific example of an individual who was on bail in a violent crime, which commits multiple murders as a result of being in the streets,” said Marshall. “Clearly, this is not something that should be acceptable and this bill gives local prosecutors, who are very aware of what is happening in the community, the opportunity to accelerate cases in which justice is needed.”

If both cameras pass it, the act of rapid trial would be effective as soon as the firm governor.

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