Otis Day v. State Missouri

Missouri was one of the first states to adopt a special procedure for post-conviction review. Former Rule 27.26, patterned after federal law, was adopted by this Court in 1952 and provided a means for state prisoners to challenge the validity of their conviction or sentence. Rule 27.26 was adopted by this Court even though there is no federal constitutional requirement that a state provide a means of post-conviction review. Williams v. State of Missouri, 640 F.2d 140, 143 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 990 (1981).