Armand Cook v. State of Florida

• Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
• Decided: May 8, 2026
• Docket: 6D2023-3205
• Status: Published

Opinion

SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________

Case No. 6D2023-3205 Lower Tribunal No. 20-MM-4424 _____________________________

ARMAND COOK,

Appellant,

v.

STATE OF FLORIDA,

Appellee. _____________________________

Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.141(b)(2) from the County Court for Orange County. Adam McGinnis, Judge.

May 8, 2026

PER CURIAM.

Cook appeals the summary denial of his “Amended Second/Successive 3850

Motion Based on New Grounds, Facts, Merits” (the “Motion”). The trial court’s

order states that the Motion is denied. The order does not, however, discuss the

allegations in the Motion, explain the reasons for the denial, or have any portion of

the case files and records attached. Therefore, we reverse and remand. See Fla. R.

App. P. 9.141(b)(2)(D) (“On appeal from the denial of relief, unless the record shows conclusively that the appellant is entitled to no relief, the order must be reversed and

the cause remanded for an evidentiary hearing or other appropriate relief.”); see also

Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.850(h)(1)–(5) (establishing mandatory procedures for summarily

denying a motion); Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.850(j)(2) (establishing mandatory procedures

for dismissing or denying a second or successive motion). On remand, the trial court

shall either enter an order summarily denying or dismissing the Motion in

accordance with rule 3.850(h)(1)–(5), (j)(2), or proceed in accordance with the other

provisions of rule 3.850.

REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions.

NARDELLA, WHITE and MIZE, JJ., concur.

Armand Cook, Taylor, Michigan, pro se.

James Uthmeier, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Roberts J. Bradford, Jr., Assistant Attorney General, Daytona Beach, for Appellee.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF TIMELY FILED