Criminal Trials Expedited; Precedence

(a)The welfare of the people of the territory of Guam requires that all proceedings in criminal cases shall be set for trial and heard and determined at the earliest possible time, and it shall be the duty of all courts and judicial COL020909 CH. 80 PRETRIAL CONFERENCE; C ALENDAR FOR TRIAL; DISMISSAL; COMPROMISE officers and of all prosecuting attorneys to expedite such proceedings to the greatest degree that is consistent with the ends of justice.

(b)In accordance with the policy stated in Subsection (a), criminal cases shall be given precedence over, and set for trial and heard without regard to the pendency of, any civil matters or proceedings. No continuance of a trial shall be granted except upon affirmative proof in open court, upon reasonable notice, that the ends of justice require a continuance. No continuance shall be granted for any longer time than it is affirmatively proved the ends of justice require. Whenever any continuance is granted, the court shall enter in its minutes the facts proved which require the continuance.