speedy trial 〈美〉迅速审判 指根据法定规则和程序在法定期限内或在无不合理拖延的情况下进行的审判。美国宪法第六条修正案保障刑事被告人有受到迅速审判的权利，根据联邦最高法院的解释，赋予被告人这项权利的目的在于防止被告人在尚未被定罪的情况下受到长期羁押，缩短被告人必须忍受审判开始前的焦虑和公众注意的时间，将由于拖延而给被告人进行辩护的能力造成的损害降至最低限度等。但宪法并未具体确定在多长期限内开始审判方可被认为是迅速，有些州已通过立法确立了具体的时间限制，超过该期限而未审判者将导致指控被驳回。被告人也可以放弃这一权利。
speedy trial. Criminal procedure. A trial that the prosecution, with reasonable diligence, begins promptly and conducts expeditiously. • The Sixth Amendment secures the right to a speedy trial. In deciding whether an accused has been deprived of that right, courts generally consider the length of the delay, the reason for the delay, and the prejudice