USA v. Brown

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-13-TAV-DCP
)
ROBERT LEE BROWN, 	)
)
Defendant. 	)
)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This case is before the Court on Defendant Robert Lee Brown’s Unopposed Motion to
Continue Deadlines and Trial Date [Doc. 28], filed on April 17, 2026.
Defendant asks the Court to continue the current trial date, which is set for May 19, 2026,
and the plea deadline, set for April 17, 2026 [Id.]. In support of his motion, Defendant states that
his counsel requires additional time to discuss a potential resolution of this case with the
Government and with him, and to allow him additional time to consider his options [Id. ¶ 1].
Defendant understands that the period of time between the filing of this motion for continuance
and a rescheduled court date will be fully excludable for speedy trial purposes [Id. ¶ 3]. The motion
reflects that the Government has no objection [Id. ¶ 4].
Based upon the information contained in the motion and because the Government does not
oppose the continuance, the Court finds the ends of justice served by granting a continuance
outweigh the interests of Defendant and the public in a speedy trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A).
In making this determination, the Court has considered the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C.
§ 3161(h)(7)(B). Specifically, the Court concludes that not granting a continuance would both
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result in a miscarriage of justice and deny counsel for Defendant the reasonable time necessary for
effective preparation, accounting for the exercise of due diligence. See id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i), (iv).
Counsel for Defendant needs time to work towards a resolution of this matter, and if that is not
successful, otherwise prepare for trial. The Court finds that all of this cannot occur before the May
19, 2026 trial date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant Robert Lee Brown’s Unopposed Motion to
Continue Deadlines and Trial Date [Doc. 28]. The trial of this case is reset to July 21, 2026. A
new schedule is included below. Because the Court has found that the ends of justice served by
granting a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendant and the public in a speedy trial, all time
between the filing of the initial motion on April 17, 2026, and the new trial date is fully excludable
time under the Speedy Trial Act. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(1)(D), (h)(7)(A)–(B).
Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:
(1) 	Defendant Robert Lee Brown’s Unopposed Motion to Continue
Deadlines and Trial Date [Doc. 28] is GRANTED;
(2) 	the trial of this matter is reset to commence on July 21, 2026, at
9:00 a.m., before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States
District Judge;
(3) 	all time between the filing of the motion on April 17, 2026, and the
new trial date of July 21, 2026, is fully excludable time under the
Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
(4) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is June 22, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is July 6 2026, and
responses to motions in limine are due on or before July 14, 2026;
(6) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on July 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.; and
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(7) 	requests for special jury instructions with appropriate citations to
authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4 shall be filed on or before
July 10, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
_______________________________
Debra C. Poplin
United States Magistrate Judge
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