Bobby Charles Nelson, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Nelson’s coram nobis petition because his allegations concerning coercion, parole advice, and counsel’s conflict of interest were, in substance, ineffective-assistance claims outside the scope of coram nobis relief. Because the petition did not state a cognizable basis for relief, the circuit court acted within its discretion in denying the petition without an evidentiary hearing. Justice Baker, joined by Justices Hart and Hoofman, dissented and would have remanded for an evidentiary hearing on whether the undisclosed conflict coerced Nelson’s guilty plea.