Trozzie Lavelle Turner, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of postconviction relief on Turner’s ineffective-assistance claim concerning the prosecutor’s closing argument, concluding that the challenged comments were permissible responses to the defense theory or that Turner failed to show prejudice. It reversed and remanded the speedy-trial ineffective-assistance claim because the circuit court did not make specific findings identifying the periods of delay excluded under the speedy-trial rules and the record relied upon. Justice Baker, joined by Justices Goodson and Wood, dissented, asserting that Turner failed to prove a speedy-trial violation and that the circuit court’s findings were sufficient.