Medford lawyer pitches delay
18 03 2008 
On St. Patrick’s Day, Bobby Medford’s lawyer, Stephen Lindsay, filed a motion to continue his client’s trial which is slated to begin on March 25. The move is unsurprising, given that Lindsay has only had a couple of months to examine what is described as a large roomful of evidence, but it could well fall on deaf judicial ears. Presiding Judge Thomas Selby Ellis III announced during Medford’s bond hearing in January said, “It will begin March 25. I’m from a jurisdiction where continuances are as rare as hen’s teeth.”
Several weeks ago, Assistant United States Attorney Richard Edwards noted that the trial date exceeded the 70-day limit imposed by the federal speedy trial law, and brought it to the court’s attention on Feb. 11. At the time, Edwards told the court that he believed Medford’s defense team would need more time to evaluate the mass of evidence gathered in the case. I interpreted that statement as giving Lindsay an opening to request delay, but legal experts I have consulted tell me that Edwards’ motion was necessary to protect the case. If no mention of the speedy trial violation had been entered, and the trial had simply proceeded as planned, the case could have been dropped on that technicality.
The court has until March 30 to rule on the continuance. Stay tuned.
