Kolmetz v. State
Kolmetz v. State
Opinion
This is an appeal from the denial of a petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner, Alan Dale Kolmetz, challenges his 1991 convictions for manslaughter and assault in the second degree. Those convictions were affirmed on direct appeal. Kolmetz v. State,
On December 17, 1992, the district attorney filed a motion for summary disposition stating the following:
"1. The petition fails to state a claim for which relief may be granted.
"2. The grounds alleged in the petition either were raised at trial or could have been but were not raised at trial.
"3. The grounds alleged in the petition either were raised on appeal or could have been but were not raised on appeal.
"4. The grounds alleged and facts stated do not amount to newly discovered evidence." R. 23.
This motion does little more than those condemned in Ex parteRice,
On December 22, 1992, the circuit court dismissed the petition for failure to state a claim. Neither the district attorney nor the *Page 454 circuit court addressed the merits of the petition.
Contrary to the ruling of the circuit court, the petition did state a proper claim for which relief could be granted. Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are cognizable in Rule 32, A.R.Crim.P., petitions for post-conviction relief. See Ex parteJenkins,
"A claim in a post-conviction petition that petitioner was denied effective assistance of counsel is not precluded where the petitioner has the same counsel at trial and on direct appeal. Flanagan v. State,
577 So.2d 559 (Ala.Cr.App. 199[0]), cert. denied,577 So.2d 559 (Ala. 1991). This is also the federal rule. Golston v. Attorney General of State of Alabama,947 F.2d 908 (11th Cir. 1991) (if same counsel represents a defendant on appeal the issue of ineffective assistance need not be raised on direct appeal)."
H. Maddox, Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure § 32.2 at 179 (Supp. 1992). The petition is "meritorious on its face." Moorev. State,
For these reasons, the judgment of the circuit court dismissing the petition for post-conviction relief is reversed. This cause is remanded with directions that the circuit court set aside its order of dismissal and address the merits of the petition pursuant to Rule 32.9, A.R.Crim.P.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
All Judges concur. *Page 722
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Alan Dale Kolmetz v. State.
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published