Biagas v. Valentine

PER CURIAM: *

Petitioner-Appellee Lance Biagas petitioned the district court for a writ of habeas corpus, asserting that his state court trial and conviction violated his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel. The district court granted Biagas relief on that basis as well as on the alternative basis of judicial error by the state trial court. Respondent-Appellant Kim Valentine appeals the district court’s grant of habeas relief, insisting, inter alia, that Biagas was not prejudiced by his defense counsel’s performance and that the district court erred by sua sponte…