Mellem v. State

Petitioner seeks post-conviction relief from her conviction of forgery in the first degree, contending that she was denied her right to adequate representation. The trial court denied relief, and she appeals. The sole issue is whether her appointed trial counsel provided her constitutionally adequate representation. We reverse.

The post-conviction court did not make discrete oral or written findings of fact, but the evidence presented at the post-conviction trial was essentially undisputed. Petitioner was arrested July 22,1987, at a bank, after presenting a check made out to her on the account…