Opinion ID: 1601898
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: effective assistance of conflict free counsel.

Text: ¶ 27. Simmons next argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel, Harvey Barton, had before the trial represented a state witness, Dennis Guess, and represented Guess's father at the time of Simmons's trial. Simmons argues that this amounted to a conflict of interest and the trial judge should have declared a mistrial. ¶ 28. This issue was raised by Simmons on direct appeal. This Court found that there was no evidence in the record to suggest that defense counsel acted in some manner other than capable. Simmons, 805 So.2d at 480. The issue is barred by res judicata pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3).