Thomas v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed the denial of Jeffrey Thomas's first motion for postconviction relief and his request for appointed counsel. Because Thomas was not convicted of a qualifying class A, B, or C felony, appointment was discretionary, and the court agreed that his ineffective-assistance allegations did not present a substantial claim. The court held that counsel's decision not to subpoena a witness was reasonable trial strategy and that claims previously rejected on direct appeal could not be revived by reframing them as ineffective-assistance claims.