THE RIGHT TO A SPEEDY TRIAL

The 6th Amendment contains a right to a speedy trial.  But what does it mean to have a “speedy” trial?  The words of the Constitution do not provide a definition.  Thus, the Supreme Court and other courts must rule on the meaning of this provision when defendants claim that this right was violated.  The foundational Supreme Court decision address this right was Barker v. Wingo (1972).