Defendant Abandoned by Appellate Counsel Denied Federal Relief

A South Carolina defendant, whose attorney left the state’s indigent defense commission after filing his appeal and without telling him what his rights were if the appeal was denied, wasn’t entitled to a federal writ of habeas corpus, the Fourth Circuit said Tuesday.

Clinton Folkes was convicted of assault and battery with intent to kill and sentenced to life in prison. His attorney, Celia Robinson, got a new job after filing a direct appeal for Folkes and left her job with the commission before the appeal was denied, the court said.

Several days later, Folkes received a letter bearing Robinson’s ...