Pierce v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court affirmed Pierce’s convictions and sentence after independently reviewing the record under the withdrawal procedure for appointed appellate counsel. It declined to consider Pierce’s ineffective-assistance claim on direct appeal because the Superior Court had not decided it on the merits, and it found no plain error in Pierce’s claim that he was coerced into waiving speedy-trial rights. The Court concluded that the appeal was wholly without merit and that counsel had conscientiously reviewed the record.