Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Dec 14, 2021
Thomas A. Edwards, Appellant, vs. State of Missouri, Respondent.
Thomas A. Edwards appealed the motion court's denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief. Edwards argued his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to assert a speedy trial violation on direct appeal. The motion court denied relief without an evidentiary hearing, concluding there was no reasonable likelihood of reversal. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the speedy trial claim was non-meritorious after balancing the Barker factors, and therefore counsel was not ineffective.