Opinion ID: 1209976
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Post-Conviction Relief Phase:

Text: On January 8, 1990, Pratt filed a petition for post-conviction relief. The petition was amended on February 12, 1990, and, pursuant to the State's motion for a more particular statement, on May 28, 1991. Finally, with permission, Pratt filed a third amended petition for post-conviction relief on October 3, 1991. Following briefing by both parties, the court issued its decision denying Pratt's petition on November 22, 1991. In his petition for post-conviction relief, Pratt raised issues concerning: (1) ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) failure to appoint qualified counsel at a reasonable rate of compensation; (3) deprivation of his right to have counsel of his choice represent him and to represent himself; (4) failure to appoint a mental health expert; (5) the trial judge's failure to reveal what he knew about Pratt's connection with Christopher Boyce; (6) misconduct by a bailiff during deliberations; (7) misconduct by jurors; (8) failure to have a jury find aggravating factors; (9) use of immunized testimony (Pratt was granted immunity to testify against Christopher Boyce in federal court); (10) use of hearsay during sentencing; (11) ex parte communication between the judge and prosecutor; (12) newly discovered evidence; and (13) prosecutorial misconduct. The court rejected all of the arguments raised by Pratt.