Opinion ID: 1610297
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the direct appeal of a defendant who pled guilty may be heard by this court.

Text: ¶ 2. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-35-101 (Rev.2000) prohibits persons who have pled guilty to a crime from filing direct appeals to this Court. [1] We therefore dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Berry v. State, 722 So.2d 706, 707 (Miss. 1998). Under state law, the appropriate procedure for Bennett to follow is to file a petition for post-conviction collateral relief in the circuit court. See Miss.Code Ann. §§ 99-39-1 to -29 (Rev.2000 & Supp.2003). 722 So.2d at 707. ¶ 3. Because we lack jurisdiction, judicial economy demands that we not address each of Bennett's claims on the merits.