Opinion ID: 1649620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Counsel failed to investigate whether Brown's post-arrest incarceration was illegal.

Text: ¶ 15. This issue is duplicative of the two previously raised concerning the revocation of Brown's probation and imposition of his suspended sentence. Brown continues to argue that the imposition of one year of the suspended sentence in 1988 necessarily vacated the remaining nine years. As previously discussed, Brown raised the issue before the trial court on motion for post-conviction relief which was denied in 1995. Brown failed to conduct a direct appeal from the denial of his motion and now couches it in the guise of an ineffective assistance claim. The State correctly notes that the [f]ailure to raise meritless objections is not ineffective lawyering. Clark v. Collins, 19 F.3d 959, 966 (5th Cir.1994). The issue is without merit.