Watts v. State

This petition for writ of habeas corpus alleging ineffective assistance of counsel requires us to examine the limits of appellate counsel’s responsibility to inform the Court of changes in the law that would present meritorious grounds for appeal. Appellate counsel has a duty to stay ap*721prised of legal changes, especially those that are relevant to cases counsel is litigating. This duty is not indefinite, however, and under the particular facts of this case, we conclude that counsel was not ineffective.

Petitioner Christopher Watts was convicted of two counts of armed robbery and one count of…