Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Criminal Law-Post-Conviction Relief-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Staff Report//April 22, 2026//

Home>Courts>Court of Appeals, Western District>

Criminal Law-Post-Conviction Relief-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Criminal Law-Post-Conviction Relief-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Staff Report//April 22, 2026//

Listen to this article

Defendant appealed the denial of his motion for post-conviction relief, which alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately advise defendant about testifying at trial, failing to investigate and present expert evidence on false confessions and failing to voir dire the jury regarding their ability to evaluate defendant’s interrogation video.     

Where defense counsel made a reasonable strategic decision to try to minimize the effects of defendant’s confession, the trial court did not err in concluding that counsel had not provided deficient representation. Furthermore, defendant failed to present evidence that any biased jurors were empaneled, resulting in no prejudice from the lack of voir dire on confessions.  

Judgment is affirmed.  

Harris v. State (MLW No. 84649/Case No. WD87651 – 27 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Gabbert, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Jackson County, Phillips, J. (Damien De Loyola, Kansas City for appellant) (Renee Warden, Jefferson City for respondent) 

Related Content

Torts-Defamation-Scope of Review of Dismissal Motion

Plaintiff appealed the dismissal of his defamation complaint against defendant, arguing that the trial court i[...]

April 22, 2026

Probate-Asset Inventories-Burden of Proof

Plaintiff appealed the trial court’s judgment finding that all of decedent’s assets were properly listed o[...]

April 22, 2026

Elections-Initiative Petition-Sufficiency of Summary Statement

Defendant appealed the trial court’s determination that his certified summary statement for an initiative [...]

April 22, 2026

Domestic Relations-Protective Custody-Cessation of Reunification Efforts

Mother appealed the trial court’s order relieving the children’s division from making further efforts to[...]

April 22, 2026

Domestic Relations-Order of Protection-Sufficiency of Evidence

Defendant appealed the entry of an order of protection in favor of plaintiff, arguing that the trial court err[...]

April 22, 2026

Domestic Relations-Dissolution-Calculation of Equalization Payment

 Defendant appealed the trial court’s judgment of dissolution, arguing that the trial court erred in calcul[...]

April 22, 2026


Latest Opinion Digests

See all digests

Special Sections

Top stories

See more news