Lynn G. Lamasters Vs. State of Iowa

MANSFIELD, Justice.

Lynn Lamasters was convicted of first-degree murder in 2005. In 2009, he filed an application for postconviction relief alleging his trial counsel was ineffective for (1) failing to raise the defense of temporary insanity or diminished capacity and (2) failing to adequately support the request for bifurcation of his trial. Lamas-ters also asserted his appellate counsel on direct appeal was ineffective for failing to appeal the trial court’s denial of his request for bifurcation. The postconviction court denied his application. The court of appeals affirmed, finding that the…