RIGHT TO SPEEDY, PUBLIC AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL

HOW SHOULD THE TRIAL BE CONDUCTED?

> The trial should be speedy, public and impartial
 

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL?

> The  right  means  that  the  trial  should  be  conducted  according  to the law of criminal procedure and the rules and regulations and it should be free from vexatious, capricious and oppressive delays
 

WHEN SHOULD THE ARRAIGNMENT AND PRE-TRIAL BE HELD?

>  According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1988, and Circular 38-98, if the accused pleads not guilty, arraignment and pre-trial should be held within 30 days from the time the  court acquires jurisdiction
over the accused
 

WITHIN HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD THE TRIAL BE COMPLETED?

> In no case shall the entire period exceed 180 days from the first day  of  trial,  except  as   otherwise  authorized  by  the  Court Administrator
 

WHAT FACTORS MAY BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING WHETHER THE  ACCUSED  HAS  BEEN  DEPRIVED  OF  HIS  RIGHT  TO  SPEEDY TRIAL AND SPEEDY DISPOSITION OF HIS CASE?  (ACCORDING TO CORPUZ V. SANDIGANBAYAN)

1.    Length of delay
2.    Reason for the delay
3.    The defendant’s assertion of his right
4.    Prejudice to the defendant
 

WHAT  ARE  THE  REMEDIES  AVAILABLE  TO  THE  ACCUSED  WHOSE RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL HAS BEEN VIOLATED?

1.    Motion  to  dismiss  on  the  ground  of  violation  of  right  to  speedy trial—must  be  filed  before  trial.    This  has  the  same  effect  as  an acquittal for purposes of double jeopardy.
2.    File for mandamus to compel a dismissal of the information
3.    If he is restrained of his liberty, file for habeas corpus
4.    Ask for the trial of the case and move to dismiss
 

WHAT  IS  THE  LIMITATION  ON  THE  RIGHT  OF  THE  ACCUSED  TO  A SPEEDY TRIAL?

> The limitation is that the State shouldn't be deprived of its day in court
> The right of the State and the prosecution to due process should be respected
 

THE  PROSECUTION  AND  THE  COMPLAINANT  FAIL  TO  ATTEND  THE FIRST  HEARING.    THE  COURT  POSTPONES   THE  HEARING  TO ANOTHER DATE.  IS THERE A VIOLATION TO THE RIGHT TO SPEEDY TRIAL?

> No, the right to speedy trial is violated when there are unjustified postponements of the trial and a long period of time is allowed to elapse without the case being tried for no unjustifiable reason
 
NOTA BENE:  Corollary to the right to speedy trial is the right to speedy disposition of cases.
 

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE RIGHT TO A PUBLIC TRIAL?

> It  means  that  anyone  interested  in  observing  the  manner that  a judge conducts the proceedings in his courtroom may do so
 

WHY SHOULD A TRIAL BE CONDUCTED IN PUBLIC?

> The trial should be public in order to prevent abuses that may be committed by the court to the prejudice of the defendant 
> Moreover  the  accused  is  entitled  to  the  moral  support  of  his friends and relatives

IS THERE AN EXCEPTION TO THE REQUIREMENT OF PUBLICITY?

> Yes, the court may bar the public in certain cases, such as when the  evidence  to  be  presented  may  be  offensive  to  decency  or public  morals,  or  in  rape  cases,  where  the  purpose  of  some
persons in attending is merely to ogle at the parties
 

IS  IT  ALRIGHT  TO  HOLD  THE  TRIAL  IN  THE  CHAMBERS  OF  THE JUDGE?

> Yes,  there  is  no  violation  of  the  right  to  a  public  trial  since  the public isn’t excluded from attending the trial
 

IN  SO-CALLED  TRIALS  BY  PUBLICITY,  WHEN  CAN  THE  PUBLICITY BE CONSIDERED PREJUDICIAL TO THE ACCUSED?

> To  warrant  a  finding  of  prejudicial  publicity,  there  must  be allegations   and   proof   that   the   judges   have   been   unduly influenced,  not  simply  that  they  might  be  by  the  barrage  of
publicity