Wednesday, December 10, 2008

U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard's Order Denying County Commission Chairman THOMAS GLAIZE MANUEL a Bribery Trial Postponement

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
THOMAS G. MANUEL
_________________________________
Case No. 3:08-cr-370-J-34HTS

O R D E R
This cause is before the Court on Defendant Thomas G. Manuel’s Second Motion
for Continuance (Dkt. No. 46; Motion) filed on December 4, 2008. In the Motion, Defendant requests that the Court continue the trial in this matter for six months. See Motion at 1. In support of the Motion, defense counsel asserts that this case involves voluminous recorded conversations and that “the quantity of legal work that remains to be done in order to properly advise the Defendant with respect to any decision to enter a plea agreement or, on the other hand, to prepare for trial, renders proceeding on the presently adopted scheduled unreasonable.” Id. Defendant represents to the Court that counsel for the government does not object to the relief requested in the Motion. See id.

Upon review of the Motion, the Court does not find that the reasons set forth in the
Motion seeking an extraordinarily lengthy continuance are sufficient for the Court to make a finding that “the ends of justice served by the granting of such continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial.” 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(8)(A).

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
Defendant Thomas G. Manuel’s Second Motion for Continuance (Dkt. No. 46) is
DENIED, without prejudice. Should Defendant desire to continue the trial in this matter, he must file a properly supported motion. In addition, counsel shall comply with Local Rule 3.09(d), United States District Court, Middle District of Florida.
DONE AND ORDERED at Jacksonville, Florida, this 9th day of December, 2008.

No comments: