Opinion ID: 2525464
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The right to an evidentiary hearing and the application of procedural bars

Text: Evans contends that the district court erred in denying his petition without holding an evidentiary hearing and allowing him to conduct discovery. A defendant seeking post-conviction relief cannot rely on conclusory claims for relief but must support any claims with specific factual allegations that if true would entitle him or her to relief. [3] The defendant is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing if the allegations are belied or repelled by the record. [4] Further, a court must dismiss a habeas petition if it presents claims that either were or could have been presented in an earlier proceeding, unless the court finds both cause for failing to present the claims earlier or for raising them again and actual prejudice to the petitioner. [5] Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are properly presented in a timely, first post-conviction petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Because such a claim is generally not appropriate for review on direct appeal, the failure to raise it on direct appeal does not constitute a waiver of the claim for purposes of post-conviction proceedings. [6]