Bloate v. US, No. 08-728, involved a drug and firearm possession prosecution. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment on Speedy Trial Act grounds.
The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the time granted to prepare pretrial motions was not automatically excludable from the 70-day limit under 18 U.S.C. section 3161(h)(1), and such time may be excluded only when a district court grants a continuance based on appropriate findings under subsection (h)(7).
Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Stevens, Scalia, Kennedy, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Ginsburg, J., filed a concurring opinion. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Breyer, J., joined.
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