| Most people have not been charged with anything | | | | or bad for their case. Typically defense lawyers have |
| beyond traffic ticket violations but we've all seen | | | | access to any evidence the prosecution does. |
| celebrity trials get played out for several months, if | | | | Another factor in the timing is requests for |
| not years over the media. What is holding the justice | | | | continuances. These reset trial dates until a later time. |
| system up? Why can't there be a trial right away so | | | | Defense lawyers will sometimes employ this strategy |
| those charged with crimes can have their day in | | | | to lessen prejudice or weaken the government's |
| court? There are several reasons. | | | | case. For example, if a recent crime has become a |
| One reason criminal proceedings take so long is a | | | | hot button issue in town, it might be best to let |
| fact gathering process called discovery. In discovery, | | | | emotions cool before having a trial. |
| lawyers on both sides (prosecution and defense | | | | Third, it takes a long time to get to a criminal trial |
| attorney) are trying to find as much evidence as | | | | because there are simply a lot of trials set ahead in |
| possible. Defense lawyers are looking for evidence | | | | the docket. The United States criminal justice |
| both to absolve their clients of guilt and to be | | | | system, in general, is overwhelmed. There are so |
| prepared for at trial. Prosecutors - ideally - are looking | | | | many cases to wade through, it usually takes at least |
| which goes to the truth of the matter whether good | | | | a few months to address the new ones. |