Courtney Jerrel Douglas v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Douglas's ineffective-assistance claim concerning the deadly-force justification instruction because the evidence provided no rational basis for the instruction and Douglas failed to establish deficient performance or prejudice. It reversed and remanded the denial of his claim concerning the extreme-emotional-disturbance manslaughter instruction because the circuit court did not make the written findings required when denying postconviction relief without a hearing.