Anderson v. State

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Justia Opinion Summary

The Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Richard Harold Anderson’s motion filed pursuant to Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851, holding that Anderson was not entitled to relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and this court’s decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016). Anderson was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Anderson’s sentence of death became final in 1991. The Supreme Court held that Hurst did not apply retroactively to Anderson’s sentence of death and thus affirmed the denial of Anderson’s motion.

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Supreme Court of Florida ____________ No. SC17-884 ____________ RICHARD HAROLD ANDERSON, Appellant, vs. STATE OF FLORIDA, Appellee. [January 26, 2018] PER CURIAM. We have for review Richard Harold Anderson’s appeal of the circuit court’s order denying Anderson’s motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. This Court has jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const. Anderson’s motion sought relief pursuant to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Hurst v. Florida, 136 S. Ct. 616 (2016), and our decision on remand in Hurst v. State (Hurst), 202 So. 3d 40 (Fla. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 2161 (2017). This Court stayed Anderson’s appeal pending the disposition of Hitchcock v. State, 226 So. 3d 216 (Fla. 2017), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 513 (2017). After this Court decided Hitchcock, Anderson responded to this Court’s order to show cause arguing why Hitchcock should not be dispositive in this case. After reviewing Anderson’s response to the order to show cause, as well as the State’s arguments in reply, we conclude that Anderson is not entitled to relief. Anderson was sentenced to death following a jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of eleven to one. Anderson v. State, 574 So. 2d 87, 90 (Fla. 1991). Anderson’s sentence of death became final in 1991. Anderson v. Florida, 502 U.S. 834 (1991). Thus, Hurst does not apply retroactively to Anderson’s sentence of death. See Hitchcock, 226 So. 3d at 217. Accordingly, we affirm the denial of Anderson’s motion. The Court having carefully considered all arguments raised by Anderson, we caution that any rehearing motion containing reargument will be stricken. It is so ordered. LABARGA, C.J., and POLSTON, and LAWSON, JJ., concur. PARIENTE, J., concurs in result with an opinion. LEWIS and CANADY, JJ., concur in result. QUINCE, J., recused. 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, 138 S. Ct. 513 (2017), is now final. However, I continue to adhere to the views expressed in my dissenting opinion in Hitchcock. -2- An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Hillsborough County, Michelle Sisco, Judge - Case No. 291987CF008047000AHC James Viggiano, Jr., Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, Maria E. DeLiberato, Julissa Fontán, and Chelsea Ray Shirley, Assistant Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, Middle Region, Temple Terrace, Florida, for Appellant Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Christina Z. Pacheco, Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, Florida, for Appellee -3-

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