CALVIN SMITH, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Calvin Smith appealed a post-conviction relief denial regarding his sentencing, challenging consecutive mandatory minimum terms. The appellate court previously reversed and remanded for the trial court to either provide additional record materials or hold an evidentiary hearing, but the trial court failed to comply on remand, simply resubmitting the same sentencing transcript. The court again reversed and remanded, requiring the trial court to either provide additional record materials demonstrating Smith is not entitled to relief or conduct an evidentiary hearing.
The trial court's order did not comply with the appellate court's mandate because it merely resubmitted the same sentencing transcript that the appellate panel had already determined did not completely refute Smith's claims. Smith's mandamus petition and belated appeal were timely, and the court reversed and remanded again, directing the trial court to attach additional record portions showing Smith is not entitled to relief or conduct an evidentiary hearing.
[1] A court order that fails to advise a party of their right to appeal entitles that party to a belated appeal.
[2] A trial court must comply with an appellate court's mandate on remand by either attaching additional record portions refuting the claims or holding an evidentiary hearing…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The order of January 13 therefore did not comply with this court's mandate, and we again reverse and remand with directions to attach additional portions of the record which show Smith is not entitled to relief, or to conduct an evidentiary hearing.”
States the core holding that the trial court failed to comply with the appellate mandate and what must now occur on remand.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceCalvin Smith was sentenced on April 15, 1982, and sought post-conviction relief contending his sentence improperly provided for consecutive mandatory …
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PER CURIAM.
Calvin Smith moved for post-conviction relief in the circuit court, contending that his sentence improperly provided for consecutive mandatory minimum terms. The trial court denied relief, attaching a copy of the sentencing hearing of April 15, 1982, as supporting its conclusion that the sentence imposed was legal. On appeal this court reversed, directing the circuit court to either attach additional portions of the record which refute Smith’s claims or to hold an evidentiary hearing. Smith v. State, 589 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).
On remand, the circuit court entered an order which again attached a copy of the transcript of the April 15, 1982, sentencing hearing, commenting that the transcript “answers the questions of the 1st District Court of Appeal and [sic] its opinion filed November 15, 1991.” That order was dated January 10 and rendered by filing with the clerk of court on January 13, 1992.
Smith then filed a petition for writ of mandamus with this court, seeking to compel the circuit court to comply with this court’s prior opinion. We issued an order which treated the petition as a notice of appeal and an initial brief and which directed the State of Florida to show cause why Smith should not be granted a belated appeal and why the cause should not be summarily reversed and remanded for further proceedings. Upon consideration of the response, we accept appellate jurisdiction and reverse.
The state opposes Smith’s request for review, in part, on the theory that his claim for relief was untimely. We disagree. The mandamus petition contains a certificate that it was served on February 10, 28 days after rendition of the order, and it was filed with this court on February 14, 1992, 32 days after rendition of the order. Under the reasoning of Haag v. State, 591 So. 2d 614 (Fla.1992) and Skinner v. Skinner, 561 So. 2d 260 (Fla.1990), Smith has timely invoked the jurisdiction of this court if he can verify the date the petition was given to prison officials for mailing. We find it unnecessary to request such verification, however, because the order rendered January 13 failed to advise Smith of his right to appeal and he would be entitled to a belated appeal pursuant to State ex rel. Shevin v. District Court of Appeal, Third District, 316 So. 2d 50 (Fla.1975) in any event. See also Jessop v. State, 495 So. 2d 825 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986).
Accordingly, we turn to the merits. It is clear from our review of the case file in case number 91-265, Smith’s prior appeal, that the panel of judges had before it the transcript of the hearing of April 15, 1982, and determined that it did not completely refute the appellant’s claims for relief. The order of January 13 therefore did not comply with this court’s mandate, and we again reverse and remand with directions to attach additional portions of the record which show Smith is not entitled to relief, or to conduct an evidentiary hearing.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
JOANOS, C.J., and BOOTH and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- State v. Thurston McCLAIN, 591 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 1992)
- Haag v. State, 591 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 1992)
- State of Fla. ex rel. Robert L. Shevin v. The Dist. Court OF Appeal of Fla., 316 So. 2d 50 (Fla. 1975)
- Skinner v. Skinner, 561 So. 2d 260 (Fla. 1990)
- Jessop v. State, 495 So. 2d 825 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986)
- Smith v. State, 589 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)