Alabama Governor Signs Speedy Trial Act to Expedite Violent Crime Cases
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey enacted the Speedy Trial Act on Tuesday, a significant legislative move aimed at fast-tracking violent criminal cases in Alabama. This new law empowers the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to appoint visiting judges—either sitting or retired—to oversee specific violent offense cases. The initiative is designed to alleviate delays and ensure timely trials, particularly in regions experiencing backlogs.
On the very same day, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall urged Chief Justice Sarah Stewart to appoint a visiting judge for the high-profile case involving Ibraheem Yazeed, accused of the 2019 kidnapping and murder of college student Aniah Blanchard. Blanchard, who was 19 and the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris, disappeared from an Auburn gas station in October 2019, and her remains were found a month later. Despite the gravity of the charges, no trial date has yet been established for Yazeed, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder.
Marshall expressed the frustration felt across Alabama regarding the delays in the Blanchard case, highlighting the emotional toll on victims’ families. "Our entire state has watched the repeated delays in this case with angst and frustration," he stated in a letter to Chief Justice Stewart.
Katherine Robertson, chief counsel for Marshall, emphasized the critical need for this legislation, citing significant bottlenecks in certain circuits where cases involving violent crimes often stagnate. Governor Ivey, in her remarks while signing the bill, referenced the Blanchard case as a pertinent example of the pressing need for judicial efficiency and justice for victims.
The Speedy Trial Act marks a proactive step towards reforming Alabama’s criminal justice system, prioritizing timely resolutions for serious offenses.
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