USA v. Jackson

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 	)
)
Plaintiff, 	)
v. 	) 	No. 3:25-CR-85-TAV-JEM
)
RICHARD T. JACKSON, 	)
)
Defendant. 	)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
All pretrial motions in this case have been referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) for disposition or recommendation as appropriate. This case is before the Court on
Defendant Richard T. Jackson’s Unopposed Motion for Continuance of Trial Date and Related
Deadlines [Doc. 24], which he filed on December 30, 2025.
Defendant Jackson asks the Court to continue the trial in his case [Id. at 1]. In support of
his motion, Defendant asserts the Court recently appointed him new counsel on December 18,
2025 [Id. ¶ 2]. Additionally, Defendant states his new counsel was first able to meet with him on
December 30, 2025 [Id. ¶ 3]. Defendant further states he is being housed in a detention center in
Kentucky, which is approximately two hours from his counsel’s office [Id. ¶ 4]. Defendant
contends his prior counsel provided his new attorney discovery, but due to the holiday season and
counsel’s schedule, his new counsel has been unable to review discovery and advise Defendant
accordingly [Id. ¶ 5]. Defendant argues being required to proceed to trial on the current January
27, 2026, date would compromise his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel
[Id. ¶ 6]. Defendant’s motion reflects the Government does not object to the requested continuance
[Id. ¶ 7]. Defendant’s counsel discussed Defendant’s speedy trial rights, and Defendant agrees to
waive those rights and consents to a continuance [Id. ¶ 6].
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Based upon the information in Defendant’s 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 failing to grant a continuance would both
result in a miscarriage of justice and deny counsel for Defendant the reasonable time necessary for
effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence. See id. § 3161(h)(7)(B)(i),
(iv). Specifically, defense counsel needs time to review discovery, confer with Defendant, and
prepare the case for trial. The Court finds that this cannot occur before the January 27, 2026, trial
date.
The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant’s Unopposed Motion for Continuance of Trial
Date and Related Deadlines [Doc. 24]. The trial date is reset to May 12, 2026. A new,
comprehensive trial schedule is included below. Because the Court has found that the ends of
justice served by granting a continuance outweigh the interests of Defendants and the public in a
speedy trial, all of the time between the filing of the motion on December 30, 2025, 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, it is ORDERED as follows:
(1) 	Defendant’s Motion for Continuance of Trial Date and Related
Deadlines [Doc. 24] is GRANTED;
(2) 	the 	trial 	date 	is 	reset 	to 	commence 	on 	May 	12, 	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 December 30, 2025,
and the new trial date of May 12, 2026, is fully excludable time
under the Speedy Trial Act for the reasons set forth herein;
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(4) 	the deadline for filing a plea agreement in the record and providing
reciprocal discovery is April 13, 2026;
(5) 	the deadline for filing motions in limine is April 27, 2026, and
responses to motions in limine are due on or before May 5, 2026;
(6) 	the parties are to appear before the undersigned for a final pretrial
conference on April 28, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.; and
(7) 	requests for special jury instructions with appropriate citations to
authority pursuant to Local Rule 7.4 shall be filed on or before
May 1, 2026.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ENTER:
____________________________
Jill E. McCook
United States Magistrate Judge
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