Michael Lee Smith v. A.L. Lockhart, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction

LAY, Chief Judge.

Michael Lee Smith appeals the magistrate’s denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Smith alleges: 1) his Sixth Amendment rights were violated when he was denied counsel at a critical stage of the criminal proceedings; 2) his due process rights were violated when he was denied counsel at a critical stage of the proceedings; and 3) his eighth amendment rights were violated by imposition of a cruel and unusual sentence of 242 years in jail. We hold that Smith was denied counsel at a critical stage, and accordingly vacate the decision of the magistrate denying the…