United States v. Nixon

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Keon Nixon was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and use of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. After these charges were filed, federal authorities indicted Nixon for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, but authorities waited almost a year to arraign him. After Nixon was eventually arraigned, he moved to dismiss the federal indictment, contending that the delay in the federal case violated his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial. The district court denied the motion, concluding that: (1) federal authorities had a valid reason for the delay; (2) Nixon had waited too long to invoke his right to a speedy trial after learning of the federal charge; and (3) the delay had not created prejudice. The Tenth Circuit agreed with these conclusions and affirmed the denial of Nixon’s motion to dismiss. View "United States v. Nixon" on Justia Law