The State Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from murder defendant Bradley Morales seeking post-conviction relief.

Morales, 30, is charged in the August 2017 stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend.

He was previously convicted by a jury of murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison by North Central District Court Judge Doug Mattson. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Morales must be given a new trial because Mattson denied Morales his right to a public trial when he closed the court to the public at different points without first considering alternatives.

Morales claimed in his appeal that he has received ineffective assistance of counsel and Mattson incorrectly dismissed his various claims at different points during various court proceedings. Morales wanted an evidentiary hearing.

The Supreme Court decided that Morales is not entitled to post-conviction relief because his previous conviction was vacated. Morales is currently considered innocent unless proven guilty. A new trial date in the murder case has not yet been set.