The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas announced on Apr. 1 that it will exclude a period of time from the Speedy Trial Act calculations for cases in the Midland-Odessa and Pecos divisions.
The decision comes as a result of a measles outbreak affecting the West Texas Detention Facility, which has impacted defendants’ rights to a speedy trial under federal law.
According to the court’s announcement, “the end of justice outweigh[s] the interest of the Defendants and of the public in a speedy trial,” leading to an order that designates April 2, 2026 through April 21, 2026 as excludable time under Title 18 U.S.C. Section 3161(h)(7)(A).
This means that any delays caused by this period will not count against statutory deadlines for bringing defendants to trial. The order aims to address health concerns while balancing legal requirements regarding timely trials.
Those seeking further details can view the full Amended Third General Order Regarding Speedy Trial Act for Midland-Odessa and Pecos divisions.
