Pruitt v. State

This matter is before the Court by way of a petition for a writ of certiorari from an order of Judge Patterson finding that petitioner was entitled to review under Austin v. State 1 of an order issued by Judge Brown denying, after a hearing, petitioner’s application for postconviction relief (PCR). The State does not contest the finding that petitioner is entitled to an Austin review. Accordingly, we grant certiorari, dispense with further briefing, and proceed with a review of the questions asserting error in Judge Brown’s order.

Petitioner asserts that his trial counsel was ineffective for…