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Stephen Smalls v. State of South Carolina, filed 2/7/18: South Carolina Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Finding that COA Did Not Properly Assess State’s Evidence of Guilt. Also, Court Clarifies It Reviews PCR Legal Conclusion De Novo.

Stephen Smalls v. State of South Carolina, filed 2/7/18: South Carolina Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Finding that COA Did Not Properly Assess State’s Evidence of Guilt. Also, Court Clarifies It Reviews PCR Legal Conclusion De Novo.

Important case for the Bench and Bar— Court clarifies its standard of review for PCR court...
Ramirez v. State, Appellate Case No. 2015-002063 (filed 1/5/17), SC Supreme Court Clarifies Law for Incompetent Guilty Plea

Ramirez v. State, Appellate Case No. 2015-002063 (filed 1/5/17), SC Supreme Court Clarifies Law for Incompetent Guilty Plea

The petitioner here is severely intellectually disabled.  His plea counsel failed to request an...
Post-Conviction Relief Hearings, How to Raise and Preserve Your Winning Issues Under the Current System

Post-Conviction Relief Hearings, How to Raise and Preserve Your Winning Issues Under the Current System

In my opinion, the post-conviction relief (PCR) system in South Carolina is completely and utterly...