Copas v. Commissioner of Correction

This is an appeal from the decision of the habeas court granting the petitioner, David Leroy Copas, a new trial on the basis that he had received ineffective assistance of counsel at the time he pleaded guilty to murder and that, but for defense counsel’s deficient performance, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Because the habeas court denied the state certification to appeal, we must first decide whether the judgment of the habeas court is properly before us. If we conclude that the case is properly before this court, the dispositive issue becomes whether the deficient…