I happened to catch a story in the Great Falls Tribune that August 1-5, 2011, is the date that has been set to decide if Barry Beach deserves a new murder trial. You can read the Tribune story HERE.

Waiting that long is ridiculous and deserves some commentary…

I have always contended that there are more questions than answers in this case – and that Beach deserved a new trial. You can read my commentaries about the case by going to “Categories” on the right side of the screen, clicking on it, and selecting “Barry Beach.”

New judges have been assigned to this case several times – the latest being assigned (PDF) on May 5, 2010 –which means it will be around 454 days or one year, two months and 28 days before Beach gets his hearing in August 2011.

It seemed to me that politics may have played a role in one judge being removed. Nels Swandal was assigned the case, and then replaced when the Montana Department of Justice filed a motion against him being the judge.

Readers probably know that Swandal is running for a seat on the Montana Supreme Court and is probably not the favorite candidate of folks in the Montana Department of Justice – which is overrun by Democrats. Giving Swandal some “free” publicity is probably not something they wanted to happen. Swandal is more conservative than his opponent for the Montana Supreme Court – who is a long-time Helena insider and formerly worked at the Montana Department of Justice.

Since the Montana Department of Justice decided not to comment on why Swandal was removed, the decision does not pass the smell test to me.

Meanwhile, Barry Beach waits – and the wait is too long.

You can visit a website dedicated to the Barry Beach trial by going HERE.