TIMOTHY NELSON BUTLER
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA
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A habeas corpus petition attacking a conviction based on manifest injustice must fall within a narrow exception, and mere invocation of the term 'manifest injustice' is insufficient without substantive grounds.
[1] Habeas corpus relief based on manifest injustice is available only in a narrow category of cases, and mere invocation of the term 'manifest injustice' without substantive…
Previewing 1 of 1 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“the 'mere incantation of the words 'manifest injustice' does not make it so.'”
The court rejected Butler's habeas petition, emphasizing that simply invoking the phrase 'manifest injustice' is insufficient without substantive grounds.
Timothy Nelson Butler was convicted in 2005 of attempted armed robbery and attempted felony murder. He petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus attackin…
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Third District Court of Appeal State of Florida
Opinion filed December 3, 2025. Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
________________
No. 3D25-2281 Lower Tribunal No. F00-36825 ________________
Timothy Nelson Butler, Petitioner,
vs.
State of Florida, Respondent.
A Case of Original Jurisdiction – Habeas Corpus.
Timothy Nelson Butler, in proper person.
James Uthmeier, Attorney General, for respondent.
Before FERNANDEZ, MILLER, and GOODEN, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Timothy Nelson Butler petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus attacking his 2005 conviction for attempted armed robbery and attempted
2 felony murder based upon manifest injustice. See Baker v. State, 878 So. 2d 1236, 1246 (Fla. 2004) (Anstead, C.J, specially concurring) (“That writ is enshrined in our Constitution to be used as a means to correct manifest injustices and its availability for use when all other remedies have been exhausted has served our society well over many centuries. This Court will, of course, remain alert to claims of manifest injustice, as will all Florida courts.”); Lightner v. State, 306 So. 3d 1019, 1021 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020) (“Under Florida law, appellate courts have the authority to correct a manifest injustice by way of habeas corpus.”). “Nevertheless, this exception only applies to a narrow category of cases.” Leach v. State, 406 So. 3d 272 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025). But the “mere incantation of the words ‘manifest injustice’ does not make it so.” Beiro v. State, 289 So. 3d 511, 511 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019). Finding this case does not fall within this narrow exception and no manifest injustice occurred, we deny the petition.
Petition denied.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Authorities Cited
- Maykel Beiro v. State, 289 So. 3d 511 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020)
- Leach v. State, 406 So. 3d 272 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025)