HARRY FRANKLIN PHILLIPS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. | 2018-01-22
No. SC17-984
LABARGA, C.J., and QUINCE, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur., PARIENTE, J., concurs in result with an opinion., LEWIS and CANADY, JJ., concur in result.
234 So. 3d 547 Florida Supreme Court (2018) Positive Treatment
Cited by 1 case

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Synopsis

Harry Franklin Phillips appealed the denial of his Rule 3.851 motion seeking relief based on the Hurst v. Florida decision regarding jury sentencing in capital cases. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial, holding that Hurst does not apply retroactively to Phillips' death sentence, which became final in 1998.


Holding

Hurst does not apply retroactively to Phillips' sentence of death because his sentence became final in 1998, prior to the Hurst decision. Therefore, Phillips is not entitled to relief under Hurst.


Headnotes

[1] The United States Supreme Court's decision in Hurst v. …

[2] A motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851 is properly denied when the underlying legal precedent upon which the motion…

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Key Quotes

“Phillips was sentenced to death following a jury's recommendation for death by a vote of seven to five.”

Establishes the factual basis for Phillips' death sentence

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Facts & Procedural History

Phillips was sentenced to death following a jury's recommendation by a vote of seven to five. His death sentence became final in 1998. He filed a moti…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

We have for review Harry Franklin Phillips’ appeal of the circuit court’s order denying Phillips’ motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. This Court has jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const.

Phillips’ motion sought relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, — U.S. —, 136 S.Ct. 616, 193 L.Ed.2d 504 (2016), and our decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So.3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 137 S.Ct. 2161, 198 L,Ed.2d 246 (2017). This Court stayed Phillips’ appeal pending the disposition of Hitchcock v. State, 226 So.3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 138 S.Ct. 513, 199 L.Ed.2d 396 (2017). After this Court decided Hitchcock, Phillips responded to this Court’s order to show cause arguing why Hitchcock should not be dispositive in this case.

After reviewing Phillips’ response to the order to show cause, as well as the State’s arguments in reply, we conclude that Phillips is not entitled to relief. Phillips was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation. for death by a vote of seven to five. Phillips v. State, 705 So.2d 1320, 1321 (Fla. 1997). Phillips’ sentence of death became final in 1998. Phillips v. Florida, 525 U.S. 880, 119 S.Ct. 187, 142 L.Ed.2d 152 (1998). Thus, Hurst does not apply retroactively to Phillips’ sentence of death. See Hitchcock, 226 So.3d at 217. Accordingly, we affirm the denial of Phillips’ motion.

The .Court having carefully considered all arguments raised by Phillips, we caution that any rehearing motion containing reárgument will be stricken. It is so ordered.

LABARGA, C.J., and QUINCE, POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur.

PARIENTE, J., concurs in result with an opinion.

LEWIS and CANADY, JJ., concur in result.

PARIENTE, J.,

concurring in result.

I concur in result because I recognize that this Court’s opinion in Hitchcock v. State, 226 So.3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 138 S.Ct. 513, 199 L.Ed.2d 396 (2017), is now final. However, I continue to adhere to the views expressed in my dissenting opinion in Hitchcock.

Concurrence
PARIENTE, J.,

PARIENTE, J.,

concurring in result.

I concur in result because I recognize that this Court’s opinion in Hitchcock v. State, 226 So. 3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 138 S.Ct. 513, 199 L.Ed.2d 396 (2017), is now final. However, I continue to adhere to the views expressed in my dissenting opinion in Hitchcock.


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