Coleman v. State

Joe Coleman appeals from the circuit court's summary dismissal of his Rule 32, Ala. R.Crim. P., petition. The petition sought post-conviction relief from his 1964 conviction for first-degree murder. Coleman was sentenced to life imprisonment. No direct appeal was taken from this conviction. The circuit court found that Coleman has filed six prior post-conviction petitions and in each case, summary dismissal was affirmed on direct appeal.1 The circuit court dismissed the instant petition ruling that it is a successive petition, that it exceeds the limitations period of Rule 32.2(c), Ala.…