Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 20, 2021
Tommy J. Davis, Appellant, v. State of Missouri, Respondent.
Tommy J. Davis appealed the denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. Davis argued he was denied access to legal materials to represent himself at trial and that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal. The Eastern District affirmed the motion court's judgment, finding that Davis had meaningful access to legal materials and counsel, and that appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise an unpreserved and meritless claim.