Florida Supreme Court - September Oral Arguments
Returning from summer recess, the Florida Supreme Court will hold three days of oral arguments (OA) this month. Several capital cases are on the schedule.
Returning from summer recess, the Florida Supreme Court will hold three days of oral arguments (OA) this month. Several capital cases are on the schedule. The Court will post summaries of the cases closer to OA; these are mine.
Tuesday, September 10
Doty v. State
Wayne Doty was sentenced to death in June 2013. This is Doty’s initial postconviction appeal, in which he appeals the postconviction court’s summary denial of his claims. He raises seven issues related to both the guilt- and penalty-phase of his trial. The docket can be accessed here.
Craft v. State
Robert Craft was sentenced to death in 2019. This is Craft’s initial postconviction appeal, in which he raises five claims. Two claims related to alleged prosecutorial misconduct. The docket can be accessed here.
Wednesday, September 11
Mosley v. State
John Mosley was granted resentencing after Hurst. In December 2019, the jury unanimously recommended that Mosley be resentenced to death. In July 2023, he was resentenced to death following the jury’s verdict. (More here.) This is Mosley’s direct appeal on resentencing. The docket can be accessed here.
Fletcher v. State
Timothy Fletcher was originally sentenced to death in 2012 following the jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of 8-4. On postconviction, Fletcher was granted resentencing after Hurst. On resentencing, Fletcher was resentenced to death following the jury’s unanimous recommendation for death. This is his direct appeal on resentencing. The docket can be accessed here.
State v. Kaczmar
Leo Kaczmar was sentenced to death for crime that occurred in December 2008. The Florida Supreme Court vacated his first death sentence and remanded for a new penalty phase, after which Kaczmar was resentenced to death. In postconviction, the circuit court found ineffective assistance of counsel and granted Kaczmar a new penalty phase. The State appealed the ruling. Kaczmar cross-appealed, raising 25 issues. The docket can be accessed here.
Thursday, September 12
Jones v. State
In April 2023, Michael Jones was sentenced to death for crimes that occurred in 2019. Jones pled guilty to the crimes. This is his direct appeal, in which he raises three issues related to the penalty phase. The docket can be accessed here.
Information about how to access the oral arguments can be found here.