Justia Florida Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying George James Trepal’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Trepal was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Trepal was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of nine to three. Trepal’s sentence of death became final in 1994. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Trepal’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Trepal’s motion. View "Trepal v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Kenneth Allen Stewart’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Stewart was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Stewart was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of ten to two. Stewart’s sentence of death became final in 1992. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Stewart’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Stewart’s motion. View "Stewart v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Robert D. Morris’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Morris was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Morris was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eight to four. Morris’s sentence of death became final in May 2002. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Morris’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Morris’s motion. View "Morris v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Ian Deco Lightbourne’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Lightbourne was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Lightbourne was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by an unrecorded vote. Lightbourne’s sentence of death became final in 1984. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Lightbourne’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Lightbourne’s motion. View "Lightbourne v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying William H. Kelley’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Kelley was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Kelley was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eight to three. Kelley’s sentence of death became final in 1986. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Kelley’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Kelley’s motion. View "Kelley v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Sonny Ray Jeffries’ motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Jeffries was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Jeffries was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Jeffries’ sentence of death became final in January 2002. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Jeffries’ sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Jeffries’ motion. View "Jeffries v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Kenneth Hartley’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Hartley was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Hartley was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of nine to three. Finney’s sentence of death became final in 1997. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Hartley’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Hartley’s motion. View "Hartley v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Charles William Finney’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Finney was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Finney was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of nine to three. Finney’s sentence of death became final in 1996. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Finney’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Finney’s motion. View "Finney v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Richard Harold Anderson’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Anderson was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Anderson was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Anderson’s sentence of death became final in 1991. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Anderson’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Anderson’s motion. View "Anderson v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Lenard James Philmore’s successive motion for postconviction relief under to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851 seeking relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Philmore was sentenced to death following a jury’s unanimous recommendation for death. Philmore’s sentence of death became final on October 7, 2002. The postconviction court found that Hurst applied retroactively to Philmore’s sentence of death but that any Hurst error was harmless. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the Hurst error in Philmore’s case was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt and that Philmore was not entitled to relief on his other claims. View "Philmore v. State" on Justia Law