The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas announced on Mar. 18 that it will exclude a period of time from speedy trial calculations for the Midland-Odessa and Pecos divisions due to a measles outbreak at the West Texas Detention Facility.
This decision affects defendants’ rights under the Speedy Trial Act, which sets deadlines for bringing criminal cases to trial. The court said that, because of the outbreak and its impact on proceedings, “the end of justice outweigh the interest of the Defendants and of the public in a speedy trial.”
According to the announcement, all days from March 5 through March 22, 2026, are considered excludable time under Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3161 (h)(7)(A). This means these days will not count toward statutory deadlines for starting trials.
The order is specific to cases in the Midland-Odessa and Pecos divisions affected by disruptions at the detention facility. The court provided access to view the full amended general order regarding this change.
The exclusion aims to address delays caused by health concerns while balancing legal requirements for timely trials. Observers may expect further updates if conditions at detention facilities continue to affect court operations.
