Christopher Thornton v. State of Rhode Island

Syllabus

This Court issued a writ of certiorari to review a Superior Court amended judgment partially granting Cristopher Thornton's application for postconviction relief. The issue before the Court was whether or not Thornton's claim was precluded by the doctrine of res judicata. Before the Supreme Court, the state argued that Thornton's claim was precluded by res judicata as codified in G.L. 1956 § 10-9.1-8. Conversely, Thornton argued that his claim should have been permitted pursuant to the interest-of-justice exception to res judicata. Upon reviewing the record, the Supreme Court held that the hearing justice erred in partially granting Thornton's application for postconviction relief. Accordingly, the Supreme Court quashed the amended judgment of the Superior Court insofar as it vacated Thornton's convictions for felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury and witness intimidation.