State v. Prince

OPINION

O’BRIEN, Justice.

These post-conviction cases were consolidated for appeal purposes in order to elucidate appropriate procedures in cases of this nature. They present substantially the same facts and issues. Both defendants were convicted of felonies triggering the habitual criminal statute and found to be habitual criminals. Their habitual criminal convictions were grounded in part on sever*848al convictions based on guilty pleas made in prior years.

The defendants unsuccessfully pursued direct appeals of their convictions for the triggering felonies and the enhancement of their sentences…