West v. DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

OPINION BY Justice BARBARAMILANO KEENAN.

This petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed under our original jurisdiction. We consider whether the petitioner, James Darrell West, is entitled to relief for his claim that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. West bases his claim on counsel's failure to raise at trial a double jeopardy challenge to West's convictions of both aggravated involuntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

I. Proceedings

West was indicted for aggravated involuntary manslaughter of Burlia Gene Jenkins, Jr., in violation of…