In a rare instance, a Connecticut appellate court reversed part of a judgment in habeas court because the petitioner’s counsel was “ineffective” during sentencing. The petitioner will now have a chance at trial court to be resentenced.

Vishal K. Garg, appellate counsel of Koch, Garg & Brown, said he believes it is a common issue for attorneys to become discouraged after losing a trial, and sometimes “drop the ball” at sentencing.