CONYERS — Rockdale County Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation expressed some discontent over trial delays stemming from the backlog at the state’s crime lab.

Nation had calendar calls for more than 50 cases Wednesday morning, which included rape, armed robbery and other violent crimes. But state attorneys and defense attorneys asked for continuances in a few of those cases. Attorneys told the judge they are waiting for fingerprint and DNA result reports to come back from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab in order to serve as evidence in the cases.

“We’ve got about seven or eight of these cases that are backed up, can’t prosecute ... and we can’t proceed with (these cases) because the state can’t get its analysis done,” Nation said before the court.

One case, involving a defendant with aggravated child molestation and aggravated sodomy charges, had to be continued because the DNA evidence was just received Wednesday. The defendant had been in custody since May 1, 2009, according to the defense attorney.

“Nine months to get a report,” Nation said.

Another case, involving a September 2009 indictment on rape and aggravated sexual battery charges, was also delayed. The defense attorney asked for a continuance because DNA results had not been received from the crime lab.

“Is that the only lab you all can use?” Nation asked.

The judge was told it would cost money in order have to have evidence processed at another lab.

Nation alluded that maybe county money needed to be spent on processing evidence at another crime lab, saying it would be “for essential services to the court.” Nation added that public money is spent on those “stacked up in jail” because of delays in prosecuting cases.

The GBI crime lab processes evidence at no charge to counties. But the state’s budget shortages have left the department short more than 50 crime lab scientists, according to GBI spokesman John Bankhead. And there is a heavy workload. About 42,600 crime lab reports were issued in the last half of last year.

“Reports might involve several items that were tested,” Bankhead said.

The average time to complete a crime lab report varies, from 27 days for blood alcohol toxicology to 245 days for firearms. DNA takes an average of 104 days to process.

Bankhead added that DNA tests, which are often used in rape cases, are more complicated to test, compared to drug tests.

The GBI announced late last year that it was shutting down three of its regional crime labs by March because of state budget shortages.