ineffective assistance of counsel

Dec 11, 2025

SCOTUS scolds circuit panel for off-the-rails ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court reversed a Fourth Circuit ruling granting a new trial in a Maryland second-degree murder conviction, citing improper habeas review.

Feb 21, 2020

Criminal Law: Conspiracy to Distribute-Sufficiency of Evidence-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Defendant appealed from his conviction for conspiracy to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectible amount of cocaine. On appeal, defendant challenged several trial court rulings and argued that […]

Feb 3, 2020

Criminal Law: Child Molestation-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Defendant pleaded guilty, in accordance with a plea agreement, to two counts of child molestation and was sentenced to two concurrent 10-year sentences. Defendant unsuccessfully filed a motion for post-conviction […]

Dec 6, 2019

Domestic Relations: Termination of Parental Rights-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

On appeal from the trial court’s grant of the petition for adoption filed by the guardians of K.A.F., which effectively terminated father’s parental rights, father argued that his counsel failed […]

Nov 1, 2019

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

Defendant filed a motion for post-conviction relief following his conviction for the homicide of his father. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court ruled that trial counsel failed to interview, […]

Sep 23, 2019

Criminal Law: §2255 Motion-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel-Failure to File Appeal

Defendant appealed the denial of his §2255 motion following an evidentiary hearing. On appeal, defendant argued that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a direct appeal and for […]

Sep 18, 2019

Criminal Law: Habeas Corpus-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel-Death Penalty

Petitioner appealed the denial of his habeas petition, alleging that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and present mental health evidence and for giving the jury an expert […]

Sep 18, 2019

Criminal Law: Discharging Firearm at Inhabited Structure-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Defendant was charged with knowingly discharging a firearm at an inhabitable structure. The state offered a plea deal to reduce his charge and impose a four-year sentence with no opportunity […]

Aug 22, 2019

Supreme Court creates path for juveniles to claim ineffective assistance

What began as a high school bomb-threat case in Missouri’s Bootheel has led to the Supreme Court’s creation on Aug. 13 of a mechanism by which juveniles can claim ineffective […]

Aug 19, 2019

Criminal Law: Sale of Drugs-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Defendant was found guilty by a Minnesota state court jury of second-degree sale of drugs and sentenced to 108 months of incarceration. Defendant appealed the denial of his §2254 petition. […]

Aug 13, 2019

Criminal Law: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel-Failure to Investigate and Call Witnesses

Defendant appealed the denial of his motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel for trial counsel’s failure to call a corroborating witness and to fully investigate a note that provided clarity […]

Aug 5, 2019

Criminal Law: Illegal Reentry-Below-Guidelines Sentence-Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Defendant appealed from his below-guidelines range sentence, imposed after he pleaded guilty to illegal reentry. On appeal, defendant argued that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and that his sentence […]