There is only so much courtroom space and personnel, and Durham has a high crime rate, crimes that also must be dealt with in the courts. This case is in all likelihood is going to be long, as in several days or weeks, and will require free space and no doubt extra security for that length of time. I don't think it will be years for a trial, and I don't think it should take the year that Nifong is talking about. But a trial prior to the start of school in August is not likely to happen.
If the reason they cannot comply with a constitutional right to a speedy trial then by all means they need to augment their resources.
As I touched on previsouly in this thread when other business require more labor to keep up they add employees and they add shifts and they add days worked.
It is time that our courts get off this monday thru friday ( sometimes even thrusday) 9 to 4 workweek! You know like MOST of the rest of the population???
I think there is a good chance the case will be moved from Durham to a place with similar demographics. The same reverse racism will greet the defendants there.
If I set out to alienate those potential jurors, I would start by publicly crying about the unfairness of my wealthy client's hardship in postponing his $45,000 a year education. Beth Karas on Court TV mentioned yesterday that the ATM account for Seligmann was $24,000 at the time he made his withdrawal.
If I heard that, potential jurors open to jury nullification heard too. At this point in the witchhunt the best strategy imo is to seek no special treatment, leak in stages enough exculpatory evidence to remind the public of the persecution occurring, and wait patiently for vindication.
6 month's wait for a major trial is reasonable. More than 8 months is pushing it.