ROBERT E. ROWLES
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA
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A sentence of life imprisonment is sufficiently definite and constitutes a valid sentence under Florida law.
[1] A sentence of life imprisonment prescribed by the Legislature is sufficiently definite as a matter of law and constitutes a valid sentence.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“[T]he Legislature, by prescribing a sentence of life imprisonment, intends that the defendant remain in prison for the rest of his life. The term 'life' is sufficiently definite so that it can be understood and applied.”
Court's citation to Ratliff v. State in support of affirming the life sentence
Robert E. Rowles appealed from a judgment in a criminal case from Lee County Circuit Court. The appeal concerns the validity of a life sentence impose…
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SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF FLORIDA
Case No. 6D2025-2803 Lower Tribunal No. 2011-CF-014131
ROBERT E. ROWLES,
Appellant,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for Lee County. Bruce Kyle, Judge.
June 5, 2026
PER CURIAM.
AFFIRMED. See Ratliff v. State, 914 So. 2d 938, 940 (Fla. 2005) (“[T]he Legislature, by prescribing a sentence of life imprisonment, intends that the defendant remain in prison for the rest of his life. The term 'life' is sufficiently definite so that it can be understood and applied.").
SMITH, MIZE and KAMOUTSAS, JJ., concur.
Robert E. Rowles, Miami, pro se.
James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Cerese Crawford Taylor, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, for Appellee.