Justia Florida Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

In 2004, John F. Mosley was convicted of the first-degree murders of his ten-month-old son, Jay-Quan, and the boy’s mother, Lynda Wilkes. Evidence presented at Mosley’s 2005 trial established that he strangled Wilkes, asphyxiated Jay-Quan in a garbage bag, and disposed of their bodies. Wilkes’s remains were recovered, but Jay-Quan’s body was never found. Mosley received a life sentence for Wilkes’s murder and a death sentence for Jay-Quan’s murder.The Florida Supreme Court twice vacated Mosley’s death sentence, most recently in 2022, due to procedural errors, including the trial court’s failure to address Mosley’s motion to represent himself. The case was remanded for a new Spencer hearing and sentencing. Upon remand, Mosley requested counsel, and the trial court again imposed a death sentence. Mosley appealed, raising two issues.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed the case. Mosley’s first claim, seeking a new penalty phase due to alleged jury nullification, was deemed procedurally barred as it was not raised in his previous appeal. The second claim, regarding newly discovered evidence of the medical examiner’s impairment, was dismissed as untimely. The court noted that even if the claim were timely, it would not succeed because the evidence was not likely to produce an acquittal on retrial.The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed Mosley’s death sentence, concluding that the issues raised were not properly before the court and did not warrant relief. View "Mosley v. State" on Justia Law

In 1983, Kayle Barrington Bates was convicted of kidnapping, attempted sexual battery, armed robbery, and first-degree murder of Janet White. Bates attacked White in her office, forced her into the woods, and murdered her. He was found at the crime scene with the victim’s blood on his clothing, and other physical evidence linked him to the crime. Bates gave inconsistent confessions, and the jury recommended the death penalty, which the court imposed.Bates's case has undergone multiple appeals. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed his conviction but remanded for reconsideration of the death sentence. After resentencing, Bates was again sentenced to death, which was affirmed. In 1989, the Governor signed Bates’s death warrant, but the trial court stayed his execution and ordered a new sentencing hearing due to ineffective counsel. The jury again recommended the death penalty, and the circuit court imposed it, which was affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court. Bates later petitioned for habeas corpus, raising issues about jury selection, but relief was denied.Bates recently sought to interview a juror from his 1983 trial, claiming to have learned that the juror was related to the victim’s family. The postconviction court denied his motion under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.575, which requires such motions to be filed within 10 days of the verdict unless good cause is shown. Bates did not specify when he discovered the relationship, failing to establish good cause for the delay.The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the postconviction court’s denial, holding that Bates did not meet the burden of showing good cause for the 40-year delay in seeking the juror interview. The court emphasized the importance of timely motions to ensure that facts are fresh and readily ascertainable. View "Bates v. State" on Justia Law

Matthew Dettle was charged and convicted of three felonies in Florida: using a computer to solicit a child for unlawful sexual conduct, traveling to meet a minor after such solicitation, and using a two-way communications device to facilitate a felony. His conviction for the third offense was vacated. Dettle argued that his remaining two convictions violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits multiple punishments for the same offense.The First District Court of Appeal found that Dettle's convictions for traveling to meet a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device violated double jeopardy and vacated the latter conviction. However, it affirmed his convictions for solicitation and traveling, as they were based on separate illegal acts. Dettle's convictions became final in 2017. After the Florida Supreme Court's decision in Lee v. State, which held that courts should only consider the charging document to determine double jeopardy violations, Dettle sought retroactive relief under this new rule.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed whether the rule in Lee should apply retroactively. The court concluded that Lee does not apply retroactively to cases that were already final when it was decided. The court reasoned that the rule in Lee is procedural, not substantive, and does not meet the high bar for retroactive application under either the Witt or Teague standards. Consequently, the court affirmed the decision of the First District Court of Appeal, denying Dettle's request for postconviction relief. View "Dettle v. State of Florida" on Justia Law

The case involves Leo L. Boatman, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the first-degree premeditated murder of William L. Chapman, a fellow inmate at Florida State Prison. The murder occurred on July 5, 2019, and was captured on multiple video cameras. Boatman, along with codefendant William E. Wells, attacked Chapman with a ligature and two shanks for approximately twelve minutes while other inmates watched. Boatman blocked the door to prevent correctional officers from intervening. Boatman later explained that the murder was a result of being denied a review to be released from Close Management confinement and that Chapman had disrespected him.The trial court found Boatman guilty of premeditated first-degree murder. During the penalty phase, Boatman waived the jury, and the judge sentenced him to death. The State presented evidence of Boatman’s prior violent felonies, while the defense presented testimony about Boatman’s traumatic upbringing and mental health issues. The trial court found four aggravating factors, including that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC) and cold, calculated, and premeditated (CCP). The court also considered and weighed mitigating factors but ultimately imposed the death sentence.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed the case and affirmed the conviction and death sentence. The court found that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and that the trial court did not err in its rulings, including denying Boatman’s motion to adjudicate him incompetent to proceed, denying his motion to disqualify the judge, and denying his motion to exclude certain evidence. The court also upheld the trial court’s findings of the CCP and HAC aggravators and rejected Boatman’s arguments regarding the constitutionality of Florida’s death penalty scheme and his claim that his serious mental illness should exempt him from the death penalty. View "Boatman v. State" on Justia Law

John Sexton was convicted of the first-degree murder of Ann Parlato, a 94-year-old woman he knew from cutting her lawn. The crime was particularly brutal, involving severe physical trauma and post-mortem mutilation. A jury initially recommended the death penalty by a 10-2 vote, and the Florida Supreme Court upheld the conviction but remanded for a new penalty phase under Hurst v. Florida. On remand, Sexton waived his right to a jury, and the trial court sentenced him to death again.In the lower courts, Sexton moved for the recusal of Judge Mary Handsel, citing a contentious pretrial exchange. Judge Handsel denied the motion but delegated funding decisions to Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino, who granted some requests and denied others, including funding for a PET scan and travel expenses for mitigation specialists. Sexton also waived his right to a jury trial and limited the mitigation evidence presented. The trial court took judicial notice of the original trial transcripts and sentenced Sexton to death, citing three aggravating factors and giving little weight to the mitigating factors.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed the case and addressed eight issues raised by Sexton. The court found no abuse of discretion in denying funding for a PET scan and travel expenses, noting that Sexton failed to show a particularized need or prejudice. The court also held that the trial court erred in calling Sexton's mitigation specialist as a witness but deemed the error harmless. The court found no violation of Sexton's rights in the trial court's judicial notice of prior proceedings, denial of the motion to disqualify, or comments on Sexton's silence. The court concluded that the trial court properly considered mitigating evidence and understood its discretion in sentencing. Finally, the court rejected Sexton's constitutional challenge to Florida's capital sentencing scheme. The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed Sexton's death sentence. View "Sexton v. State of Florida" on Justia Law

In 1994, Jermaine Foster was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and four counts of kidnapping. The jury recommended two death sentences, which the trial court imposed. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and sentences, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari. Foster later sought postconviction relief based on intellectual disability claims, but the postconviction court denied his motion. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed this denial.Foster filed a successive motion for postconviction relief after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hall v. Florida, which was applied retroactively in Walls v. State. The postconviction court denied his motion without an evidentiary hearing, but the Florida Supreme Court remanded for a Hall-compliant hearing. Before this hearing occurred, the Florida Supreme Court decided Phillips v. State, which held that Hall should not be applied retroactively. The State moved to cancel Foster's hearing, but the postconviction court denied the motion based on the State's concession that it could not deviate from the mandate requiring a hearing.After the Florida Supreme Court's decision in Thompson v. State, which clarified that Phillips represented a change in controlling legal principles, the State renewed its motion for summary denial of Foster's intellectual disability claim. The postconviction court granted this motion, concluding that Phillips constituted an intervening change in law and that Hall did not apply retroactively.The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the postconviction court's denial of Foster's successive motion for postconviction relief. The court held that Foster's intellectual disability claim failed because Hall did not apply retroactively, and the State's initial concession did not preclude it from challenging the retroactive application of Hall. Consequently, Foster's request for an evidentiary hearing was denied. View "Foster v. State" on Justia Law

In 1994, Loran Cole and his companion encountered John Edwards and his sister while they were camping. Cole murdered John and raped his sister. Cole was indicted and found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, and sexual battery. The jury recommended the death penalty, which the trial court imposed. Cole's convictions and death sentence were affirmed on direct appeal, and his certiorari petition was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1998.Cole filed multiple postconviction relief motions, all of which were denied by the circuit court and affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court. His claims included ineffective assistance of counsel, newly discovered evidence, and constitutional challenges. Cole also sought federal habeas relief, which was denied. His subsequent motions for postconviction relief, including claims based on newly discovered evidence and Hurst v. Florida, were also denied.The Florida Supreme Court reviewed Cole's fourth successive motion for postconviction relief and his public records requests. Cole argued newly discovered evidence regarding his treatment at the Dozier School for Boys, Eighth Amendment violations due to his prison conditions, and the unconstitutionality of Florida's lethal injection procedures. The postconviction court denied these claims as untimely, procedurally barred, or without merit. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the postconviction court's decision, finding no error in the summary denial of Cole's claims and public records requests. The court also denied Cole's motion to stay his execution and his request for oral argument. View "Cole v. State of Florida" on Justia Law

On October 21, 2018, Tyrone T. Johnson called 911 from an East Tampa apartment, stating he had shot his girlfriend, Stephanie Willis, and her 10-year-old son, Ricky Willis. When deputies arrived, they found Johnson with blood on his hands and the victims' bodies in the master bedroom. Investigators discovered evidence, including a Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun, shell casings, and blood spatter. Johnson claimed the shootings occurred after an argument with Stephanie escalated, leading him to fire his gun in self-defense. He also stated that Ricky was shot when he tried to intervene.A Hillsborough County grand jury indicted Johnson for first-degree murder of Ricky Willis, second-degree murder of Stephanie Willis, and aggravated child abuse. During the trial, the State presented 19 witnesses, while the defense called none. The jury found Johnson guilty on all charges. In the penalty phase, the jury unanimously found three aggravating factors and recommended the death penalty for Ricky's murder. The trial court sentenced Johnson to death, finding the aggravators heavily outweighed the mitigators.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed Johnson's appeal, focusing on three main issues: the admission of the second portion of his interrogation video, the testimony of his brother Al Johnson, and the sentencing order. The court found no abuse of discretion in admitting the interrogation video, as it provided relevant responses from Johnson. The court also found no fundamental error in the handling of Al Johnson's testimony, despite claims of prosecutorial threats. Lastly, the court acknowledged an error in the trial court's understanding of the "no significant history" mitigator but deemed it harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The court affirmed Johnson's conviction and death sentence. View "Johnson v. State" on Justia Law

In 1999, Allen Ward Cox, an inmate at Lake Correctional Institute, was indicted for the premeditated murder of fellow inmate Thomas Baker. Cox discovered that $500 had been stolen from his footlocker and offered $50 to anyone who could identify the thief, threatening to kill the person responsible. The next day, Cox attacked Baker, beating and stabbing him with a shank, resulting in Baker's death. Cox was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Cox's conviction and death sentence in 2002. After exhausting initial state and federal postconviction proceedings, Cox filed a motion for postconviction relief based on Hurst v. Florida, which was granted in 2017. A new penalty phase trial was ordered, and the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty, finding two aggravating factors: imprisonment and a prior violent felony. The trial court sentenced Cox to death, considering both aggravating and mitigating factors.The Supreme Court of Florida reviewed Cox's appeal, which raised seven issues, including the rejection of certain nonstatutory mitigating factors, the cumulative effect of the prosecutor's comments during closing arguments, and the constitutionality of Florida's death penalty scheme. The court found no abuse of discretion in the trial court's rejection of the mitigating factors, determining that the evidence supported the trial court's findings. The court also concluded that the prosecutor's comments did not constitute fundamental error and upheld the constitutionality of Florida's death penalty scheme based on established precedent.The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed Cox's death sentence, finding no reversible error in the trial court's proceedings. The court did not address the issue raised by the State on cross-appeal, as Cox's convictions and sentences were affirmed. View "Cox v. State" on Justia Law

The case involves James Herard, a member of the "BACC Street Crips," a branch of the national Crips gang. Herard was found guilty of 18 gang-related felonies, including the first-degree murders of Eric Jean-Pierre and Kiem Huynh. The crimes were committed as part of a body-count competition within the gang. Herard was sentenced to death for the murder of Jean-Pierre and life without parole for the murder of Huynh. He appealed his convictions and death sentence.Herard's trial was held in May 2014, where the prosecution presented evidence of incriminating statements made by Herard to law enforcement following his arrest for stealing a pit bull. The defense argued that Herard's statements were inconsistent, unreliable, and involuntary. The jury found Herard guilty on 18 counts and not guilty on a robbery count.In the penalty phase, the jury recommended a death sentence for the murder of Jean-Pierre by a vote of 8 to 4. The trial court found that the State had proven three aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced Herard to death for the Jean-Pierre murder and to life without the possibility of parole for the Huynh murder.The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed the lower court's decision. The court rejected Herard's arguments that the trial court erred in denying his due process-based motion to dismiss, denying his motions to suppress incriminating statements, admitting physical evidence he claimed was unrelated to the crimes charged, excluding his expert witness testimony about false confessions, and sentencing him in a manner that violated the Sixth and Eighth Amendments. The court also found that there was sufficient evidence to sustain Herard’s conviction for the murder of Eric Jean-Pierre. View "Herard v. State of Florida" on Justia Law