Justia Florida Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

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

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

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

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Michael Bernard Bell’s motion filed under Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Bell 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). Bell was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and was sentenced to death following a jury’s unanimous recommendation of death for both murders. Bell’s sentences of death became final in 1998. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Bell’s sentences of death and thus affirmed the denial of Bell’s motion. View "Bell v. State" on Justia Law

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

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 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