LARRY PORTEE, APPELLANT,
v.
THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
Larry Portee was convicted of rape and sentenced to death. On appeal, the Florida Supreme Court addressed challenges to the grand jury's constitutional authority and to the exclusion of prospective jurors with reservations about capital punishment, ultimately affirming the death sentence.
The Court held that the 1968 Florida Constitution did not invalidate the grand jury system, which derives from common law. The Court also held that the trial court properly excluded prospective jurors who voiced reservations about capital punishment that would prevent them from impartially deciding guilt or who would refuse to consider the death penalty, consistent with Witherspoon v. Illinois. All remaining contentions lacked merit.
[1] The Florida grand jury system is derived from common law and was not invalidated by the 1968 constitutional revision.
[2] Prospective jurors may be excused for cause in a capital case if their reservations about the death penalty would prevent them from making an impartial decision on guilt…
Previewing 2 of 5 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“A sentence of death cannot be carried out if the jury that imposed or recommended it was chosen by excluding veniremen for cause simply because they voiced general objections to the death penalty or expressed conscientious or religious scruples against its infliction.”
Establishes the core holding from Witherspoon v. Illinois that mere general objections to capital punishment cannot be grounds for juror exclusion.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePortee was indicted by a Dade County Grand Jury for rape, tried by jury, and found guilty without a recommendation of mercy. He was adjudged guilty an…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Capital Punishment cases and more on FLexlaw
Defendant Portee was indicted for the crime of rape, tried by jury, found guilty without recommendation of mercy, was duly adjudged guilty and sentenced to death. Defendant now appeals and we affirm.
Defendant initially argues that the Dade County Grand Jury which indicted him was an unlawfully constituted body, contending that the 1968 revision of our Florida Constitution eliminated authorization for a grand jury as previously contained in Section 10, Declaration of Rights, Florida Constitution of 1885, F.S.A., as amended. This argument cannot pass muster because (1) our Florida grand jury system is derived from the common law, except as otherwise modified, and (2) the 1968 constitutional revision did not invalidate the grand jury system. See Fla.Stat. § 2.01, F.S.A.; Cotton v. State, 85 Fla. 197, 95 So. 668 (1923); Re Report of Grand Jury, 152 Fla. 154, 11 So.2d 316 (1943); Jones v. State, 18 Fla. 889 (1882). In fact, Article I, Section 15, Florida Constitution, 1968, recites “(a) no person shall be tried for capital crime without presentment or indictment by a grand jury. ‡ * }>
Defendant next contends that the court’s exclusion from the jury for cause of certain prospective jurors who voiced repugnancy to the death penalty, now compels us to set aside imposition of the death sentence. We cannot agree. A careful re*868view of the transcript and record establishes with the requisite amount of definiteness that each of the jurors excused because of his opinion on capital punishment either could not reach an impartial decision on the defendant’s guilt or would never vote to impose the death penalty. In Witherspoon v. State of Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), the Court not only stated :
“Specifically, we hold that a sentence of death cannot be carried out if the jury that imposed or recommended it was chosen by excluding veniremen for cause simply because they voiced general objections to the death penalty or expressed conscientious or religious scruples against its infliction.’’,
but the Court also emphasized the significance of the effect of a reservation on capital punishment, by stating:
“The issue before us is a narrow one. It does not involve the right of the prosecution to challenge for cause those prospective jurors who state that their reservations about capital punishment would prevent them from making an impartial decision as to the defendant’s guilt. Nor does it involve the State’s assertion of a right to exclude from the jury in a capital case those who say that they could never vote to impose the death penalty or that they would refuse even to consider its imposition in the case before them.”
Later, in Campbell v. State, 227 So.2d 873 (Fla.1969), this Court, in construing Witherspoon, essentially stated that the court correctly exercised its discretion in excusing a juror from the jury panel where it appeared that he could not impartially consider the question of guilt or innocence of the accused because of his religious scruples against the death penalty.
Again, in Williams v. State, 228 So.2d 377 (Fla.1969) we held that the State may challenge for cause any juror who has such a reservation about capital punishment as would prevent him from rendering an impartial verdict on the issue of defendant’s guilt. See also, Perkins v. State, 228 So.2d 382 (Fla.1969) and Paramore v. State, 229 So.2d 855 (Fla.1969).
We conclude that the exclusion of the jurors in the case sub judice meets the described tests, and accordingly error is lacking.
Our conclusion on this single issue is not unmindful of certain provocative questions raised concerning the application of Witherspoon. Assume five (5) categories of jurors in a capital case; viz:
1. Those who have no reservations about capital punishment;
2. Those who have general reservations about capital punishment (but not otherwise inquired into upon voir dire) ;
3. Those who have reservations about capital punishment but which would not affect the verdict in any manner;
4. Those who have reservations about capital punishment which would not affect a finding of guilt if accompanied with a recommendation of mercy ; and
5. Those who have reservations about capital punishment which either (a) would always preclude a finding of guilt, or (b) would preclude a finding of guilt unless accompanied with a recommendation of mercy.
Obviously, jurors fitting into categories 1 and 3 are not subject to dismissal for cause. Equally obvious is the conclusion that Witherspoon applies to a dismissal of jurors for cause who fit into category 2. As to categories 4 and 5, however, doubt remains. In clear, undiluted language, Witherspoon states that those categories were not in issue; nevertheless, the full implication of the opinion compels us to conclude that jurors in categories 4 and 5 are subject to challenge for cause. More*869over, recent federal decisions, by not treating this subject with the specificity required, have raised serious questions concerning the scope and extent of Witherspoon’s application. Absent a definitive opinion from the U. S. Supreme Court, therefore, our Court remains of the same opinion as previously. For the recent federal decisions which have thrown the matter into doubt see: Hudson v. Louisiana, 403 U.S. 949, 91 S.Ct. 2273, 29 L.Ed.2d 855 (1971); Adams v. Washington, 403 U.S. 947, 91 S.Ct. 2273, 29 L.Ed.2d 855 (1971); Wilson v. Florida, 225 So.2d 321 (Fla.1969), cert. granted 403 U.S. 947, 91 S.Ct. 2286, 29 L.Ed.2d 858 (1971); Barlow v. Taylor, 249 So.2d 437 (Fla.1971); and Barlow v. Wainwright, 323 F.Supp. 829 (N.D.Fla.1971).
Defendant’s further arguments that reversible error occurred through the State’s late response to discovery and its failure to refer to a finger print report lack merit since the record establishes that these points either were not objected to, were not prejudicial, or were cured by the trial judge. Belger v. State, 171 So.2d 574 (Fla.App.1st, 1965).
Defendant’s remaining contentions surround: alleged improper use of circumstantial evidence; determination of qualifications of a fingerprint expert for the State; alleged improper comments on defendant’s failure to testify; refusal to give requested instructions; sufficiency of the evidence; and whether Fla.Stat. § 794.01, F.S.A., (statute permitting a recommendation of mercy) is in violation of defendant’s constitutional rights (state and federal). Our considered and careful review of the entire record and transcript of trial proceedings, particularly in light of the death sentence imposed herein, compels us to conclude that the proceedings below are devoid of reversible error. Davis v. State, 44 Fla. 32, 32 So. 822 (1902); Tully v. State, 69 Fla. 662, 68 So. 934 (1915); 13 Fla.Jur. Evidence, §§ 310 and 311; State v. Jones, 204 So.2d 515 (Fla.1967); Wood-side v. State, 206 So.2d 426 (Fla.App.3rd, 1968); Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed.2d 799, 93 A.L.R.2d 733 (1963); 32 Fla.Jur., Trial, § 151; Parrish v. State, 97 So.2d 356 (Fla.App.1st, 1957); Spataro v. State, 179 So.2d 873 (Fla.App.2d, 1965); Crum v. State, 172 So.2d 24 (Fla.App.3rd, 1965); Williams v. State, 134 Fla. 171, 184 So. 15 (1938); McKee v. State, 159 Fla. 794, 33 So.2d 50 (1947); Craig v. State, 179 So.2d 202 (Fla.1965), cert. den. 383 U.S. 959, 86 S.Ct. 1224, 16 L.Ed.2d 301; Campbell v. State, supra; CrPR 1.780, 33 F.S.A.
Accordingly, the judgment and sentence appealed herein is
Affirmed.
ROBERTS, C. J., and ERVIN, CARLTON, ADKINS, BOYD, McCAIN and DEKLE, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
Amos Lee King v. State, 390 So. 2d 315 (Fla. 1980)…to impose the death penalty or that they would refuse even to consider its imposition in the case before them.” Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 513-14, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 1772, 20 L.Ed.2d 776, 780 (1968) (footnotes omitted). See Portee v. State, 253 So. 2d 866 (Fla.1971). We find the venirewoman was properly excused. Her response to the court’s inquiry was sufficient to indicate that her reservations about capital punishment would prevent her from making an impartial decision as to the defendant’s guilt.…
-
Donaldson v. The Honorable Martin Sack, 265 So. 2d 499 (Fla. 1972)…1962). . Other Criminal Buies mention capital offenses: Bail 3.130; Indictment— (Grand Jury) 3.140; 3.730 and 3.770, cause for not pronouncing death penalty to a pregnant woman; 3.191, Speedy Trial. . Fla.Stat. § 913.10, F.S.A. . Portee v. State, 253 So. 2d 866 (Fla.1971). . Fla.Const. art. I, § 14; Fla.Stat. Ch. 903 (1971). . The absence in our Crim.Rule 3.130 of “and life imprisonment” cannot override the constitutional provision outlined. . Fla.Stat. § 775.082(3), as amended by § 1 of Ch. 72-118, eff…
-
Witt v. State, 342 So. 2d 497 (Fla. 1977)…ase before them.” Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 513-14, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 1772, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968) (footnote omitted). The statements of the jurors in the instant case constitutionally warranted their exclusion. See, e. g., Portee v. State, 253 So. 2d 866 (Fla.1971). Appellant next asserts his confession, which was made subsequent to his request for counsel, should have been suppressed for failure of the State to provide proper representation. We disagree. The confession was not coerced, and the app…
Previewing 3 of 9 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited (28 total)
- Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (U.S. 1963)
- Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510 (U.S. 1968)
- State v. Jones, 204 So. 2d 515 (Fla. 1967)
- Crum v. State, 172 So. 2d 24 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965)
- Spataro v. State, 179 So. 2d 873 (Fla. 2d DCA 1965)
- Davis v. State, 44 Fla. 32 (Fla. 1902)
- Sanelco, Inc. v. Roger Wells & the Fla. Indus. Comm'n, 229 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 1969)
- In re Report OF Grand Jury, 152 Fla. 154 (Fla. 1943)
- Campbell v. State, 227 So. 2d 873 (Fla. 1969)
- Tully v. State, 69 Fla. 662 (Fla. 1915)