In Baker v. Wingo, the U.S. Supreme Court stressed the legitimate reasons for the 16 trial continuances. But is there a danger that prosecutors might illegitimately seek continuances?
There is absolutely a danger that prosecutors would illegitimately seek continuances. It could easily be used as a tactic to apply pressure to the defendant to accept a plea deal rather than go to trial. It could be used effectively against someone that could be innocent or where the the prosecution does not have concrete evidence of the crime. By making the defendant wait a longer and longer time period in jail they might want to accept a deal just for the buildup to the trial to end.