Justia Florida Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Etheria Verdell Jackson’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Jackson 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). Jackson was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of seven to five. Jackson’s sentence of death became final in 1989. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Jackson’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Jackson’s motion. View "Jackson v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Donald David Dillbeck’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Dillbeck 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). Dillbeck was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eight to four. Dillbeck’s sentence of death became final in 1995. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Dillbeck’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Dillbeck’s motion. View "Dillbeck v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Steven Maurice Evans’ motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Evans 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). Evans was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Evans’ sentence of death became final in March of 2002. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Evans’ sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Evans’ motion. View "Evans v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Curtis Windom’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Windom 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). Windom was sentenced to death following a jury’s unanimous recommendation for death. Windom’s sentence of death became final in 1995. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Windom’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Windom’s motion. View "Windom v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Richard Wallace Rhodes’ motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Rhodes 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). Rhodes was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of ten to two. Rhodes' sentence of death became final in 1994. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Rhodes' sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Rhodes' motion. View "Rhodes v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Chadwick Willacy’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Willacy 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). Willacy was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Willacy’s sentence of death became final in 1997. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Willacy’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Willacy’s motion. View "Willacy v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Carl Puiatti’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Puiatti 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). Puiatti was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Puiatti’s sentence of death became final in 1988. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Puiatti’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Puiatti’s motion. View "Puiatti v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Loran Cole’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Cole 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). Cole was sentenced to death following a jury’s unanimous recommendation for death. Cole’s sentence of death became final in 1998. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Cole’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Cole’s motion. View "Cole v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying James D. Ford’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851 and denied his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, holding that Ford 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). Ford was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Ford’s sentence became final on May 28, 2002. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Ford’s sentence of death. View "Ford v. State" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Ronald Wayne Clark Jr.’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Clark 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). Clark was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Clark’s sentence of death became final in 1993. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Clark’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Clark’s motion. View "Clark v. State" on Justia Law