STATE OF FLORIDA, PETITIONER,
v.
FIDEL LOPEZ, RESPONDENT
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The State petitioned for a writ of prohibition to overturn a trial court's order barring the death penalty in a first-degree murder prosecution. The appellate court granted the petition and quashed the trial court's order, holding that Florida's revised death penalty statute—requiring unanimous jury recommendation—provides a constitutional procedure for imposing death, and that aggravating factors need not be charged in the indictment.
The trial court's order is quashed. The death penalty may constitutionally be imposed under Florida's revised statute requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for death, and aggravating factors need not be charged in the indictment; moreover, the indictment in this case adequately alleged the necessary aggravating factors.
[1] A death penalty statute can be constitutionally applied in pending prosecutions if a jury is unanimous in recommending death, even if the statute was previously found par…
[2] Aggravating factors supporting the death penalty need not be charged in a grand jury indictment.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“the Florida Supreme Court has since held that the death penalty statute could be constitutionally applied in pending prosecutions if the jury is unanimous in recommending death”
Establishes that Evans v. State resolved the constitutional defect identified in Perry by permitting death sentences upon unanimous jury recommendation
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe trial court issued an order prohibiting the State from death-qualifying a jury and seeking the death penalty in a first-degree murder prosecution.…
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The State petitions for a writ of prohibition from the trial court’s order granting the defendant’s Motion to Prohibit Death as a Penalty in a pending first-degree murder prosecution. We have jurisdiction. State v. Jones, 209 So.3d 6, 9 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016). We grant the petition and quash the trial court’s order.
- The trial court precluded the State from death-qualifying a jury and from seeking the death penalty for two reasons: (1) the death penalty statute then in effect was found partially unconstitutional in Perry v. State, 210 So.3d 630 (Fla. 2016), so there was no constitutional procedure in place for imposing the death penalty;, and (2) the grand jury’s indictment did not allege the “aggravating factors” that the' State intended to prove at sentencing.
As to the trial court’s first reason, the Florida Supreme Court has since held that the death penalty statute could be constitutionally applied in pending prosecutions if the jury is unanimous in recommending death. Evans v. State, 213 So.3d 856 (Fla. 2017). The Florida Legislature enacted Chapter 2017-1, Laws of Florida (effective March 13, 2017), which amends thé portion of the statute found problematic in Perry to require a unanimous jury recommendation to impose a death sentence. Thus, on this point, the State has established a basis for relief.
*866As .to the second reason, a long line of precedent from the Florida Supreme Court .holds that aggravating factors need not be charged in an indictment. See, e.g., Miller v. State, 42 So.3d 204, 215 (Fla. 2010); Smith v. State, 151 So.3d 1177, 1182-83 (Fla. 2014); Tai A. Pham v. State, 70 So.3d 485, 496 (Fla. 2011); Rogers v. State, 957 So.2d 538, 554 (Fla. 2007); Coday v. State, 946 So.2d 988, 1006 (Fla. 2006); Porter v. Crosby, 840 So.2d 981, 986 (Fla. 2003); Kormondy v. State, 845 So.2d 41, 54 (Fla. 2003); Sireci v. State, 399 So.2d 964, 970 (Fla. 1981). Regardless, our review of the indictment in this case finds that it adequately alleged the aggravating factors necessary to support the death penalty. Accordingly, the State has. established a basis for relief on this point as well.
We grant the petition and quash the trial court’s order. This decision does not preclude defendant from raising claims relating to these issues on appeal if necessary.
Petition granted. Order quashed.
Ciklin, C.J., and Klingensmith, J., concur.
Warner, J., concurs specially with < opinion.
concurring specially.
I concur in the majority opinion, because the Florida Supreme Court has not overruled. its prior precedent that aggravating factors do not have to be alleged in the indictment.
The trial court reasoned that Hurst v. Florida, — U.S. -, 136 S.Ct. 616, 193 L.Ed.2d 504 (2016), and Hurst v. State, 202 So.3d 40 (Fla. 2016), recognized that “aggravating factors,” which must be proven at sentencing in order to impose a death sentence, are “elements” of a “capital murder” offense. See Hurst, 202 So.3d at 53-54 (“CJ]ust as elements of a crime must be found unanimously by a Florida jury, all these findings necessary for the jury to essentially convict a defendant of capital murder—thus allowing imposition of the death penalty—are also elements that must be found unanimously by the jury.”). Therefore, the court concluded that, like other elements, these facts must be charged in the grand jury’s indictment.
Although Hurst’s reference to aggravating factors as elements may call into question the court’s prior rationale for its position that aggravating circumstances do not need to be pled in an indictment, the Florida Supreme Court has said that it does not silently overrule itself. Puryear v. State, 810 So.2d 901, 905-06 (Fla. 2002). Absent a clear statement from the Florida Supreme Court receding from its prior holdings, its precedent must be followed.
Warner, J.,
concurring specially.
I concur in the majority opinion, because the Florida Supreme Court has not overruled. its prior precedent that aggravating factors do not have to be alleged in the indictment.
The trial court reasoned that Hurst v. Florida, — U.S. -, 136 S.Ct. 616, 193 L.Ed.2d 504 (2016), and Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), recognized that “aggravating factors,” which must be proven at sentencing in order to impose a death sentence, are “elements” of a “capital murder” offense. See Hurst, 202 So. 3d at 53-54 (“CJ]ust as elements of a crime must be found unanimously by a Florida jury, all these findings necessary for the jury to essentially convict a defendant of capital murder—thus allowing imposition of the death penalty—are also elements that must be found unanimously by the jury.”). Therefore, the court concluded that, like other elements, these facts must be charged in the grand jury’s indictment.
Although Hurst’s reference to aggravating factors as elements may call into question the court’s prior rationale for its position that aggravating circumstances do not need to be pled in an indictment, the Florida Supreme Court has said that it does not silently overrule itself. Puryear v. State, 810 So. 2d 901, 905-06 (Fla. 2002). Absent a clear statement from the Florida Supreme Court receding from its prior holdings, its precedent must be followed.
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State v. Chapman, 227 So. 3d 626 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)…Gross, J. The State’s petition for writ of prohibition is granted. See State v. Lopez, 219 So. 3d 865 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017). The trial court’s order precluding death as a possible punishment and precluding the State from death-qualifying the jury is quashed. See State v. Jones, 209 So. 3d 6 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) (granting prohibition and quashing a trial…
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State v. Tashane M. Chantiloupe, 248 So. 3d 1191 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)
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State v. Guffey, 227 So. 3d 1283 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)…Per Curiam. The petition for writ of prohibition is granted, and the order precluding the state from seeking the death penalty is quashed. State v. Lopez, 219 So. 3d 865 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017); State v. Chapman, No. 4D17-428, 227 So. 3d 626, 2017 WL 3727098 (Fla. 4th DCA Aug. 30, 2017). Petition granted. Gerber, C.J., Ciklin and Conner, JJ., concur.…
Previewing 3 of 7 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (15 total)
- Hurst v. Florida., 136 S. Ct. 616 (U.S. 2016)
- Hurst v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016)
- Sireci v. State, 399 So. 2d 964 (Fla. 1981)
- Puryear v. State, 810 So. 2d 901 (Fla. 2002)
- Coday v. State, 946 So. 2d 988 (Fla. 2006)
- Czajkowski v. State, 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016)
- Miller v. State, 42 So. 3d 204 (Fla. 2010)
- Porter v. Crosby, 840 So. 2d 981 (Fla. 2003)
- Kormondy v. State, 845 So. 2d 41 (Fla. 2003)
- Rogers v. State, 957 So. 2d 538 (Fla. 2007)