Opinion ID: 1700511
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 32

Heading: firing trial attorney

Text: In assignment of error 12, discussed as issue 19, Ryan contends that the postconviction court erred in failing to find that Ryan was deprived of his right to counsel when the trial court fired one of his defense attorneys. The trial court terminated the services of court-appointed defense attorney Ligouri after Ryan's trial, but before his sentencing hearing. Ryan raised an identical ineffective assistance of counsel claim on his direct appeal. See Ryan I. We held then that Ryan had received effective representation and that he had failed to show any prejudice by the firing of Ligouri. This issue, having been fully litigated and decided adversely to Ryan on direct appeal, affords Ryan no basis for postconviction relief. See, State v. Jones, supra ; State v. Lindsay, supra ; State v. Bowen, supra .