Criminal Appeal

The Appellant was convicted of murder in 1999, he is appealing the summary denial of his petition for postconviction relief, this is affirmed by the court. Martin claims that his equal rights were infringed when the State struck the only African American juror, second the district court was abusive in its discretion by excluding the testimony of a defense witness. Finally the appellant claims that abused its discretion by denying the appellant a Schwartz hearing to discuss and evaluate jury misconduct. In 2007, appellant Martin filed a petition for postconviction relief alleging that he received incompetent and ineffective assistance at trial, and the court violated his right to be present when the jury requested to meet with the victim’s family. The district court summarily denied him this motion. The court decides that Martin failed to raise his objections at the time of his direct appeal, no explanation is given to why he failed to do so. Martin also failed to show facts that would entitle him to relief. The court affirms the earlier district court’s ruling. Martin vs. State of Minnesota (Carlton County, MN supreme court)

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