James Bernard Belcher v. Julie L. Jones, etc.

228 So. 3d 530

• Court: Supreme Court of Florida
• Decided: November 2, 2017
• Docket: SC17-1144
• Status: Published

Opinion

Supreme Court of Florida ____________

No. SC17-1144 ____________

JAMES BERNARD BELCHER, Petitioner,

vs.

JULIE L. JONES, etc., Respondent.

[November 2, 2017]

PER CURIAM.

Petitioner James Bernard Belcher has filed a petition for writ of habeas

corpus, challenging the constitutionality of his death sentence, which was based

upon a nonunanimous jury recommendation. See Belcher v. State, 851 So. 2d 678

(Fla. 2003). We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(9), Fla. Const. Because

Belcher’s sentence became final after Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002), he is

entitled to relief. See Mosley v. State, 209 So. 3d 1248 (Fla. 2016). Accordingly,

we grant the petition, vacate the sentence of death, and remand this case for a new

penalty phase proceeding. It is so ordered.

LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, and QUINCE, JJ., concur. LAWSON, J., concurs specially with an opinion. CANADY and POLSTON, JJ., dissent.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED.

LAWSON, J., concurring specially.

See Okafor v. State, 42 Fla. L. Weekly S639, S641, 2017 WL 2481266, at

*6 (Fla. June 8, 2017) (Lawson, J., concurring specially).

Original Proceeding – Habeas Corpus

Christopher J. Anderson of Law Office of Christopher J. Anderson, Neptune Beach, Florida; and Billy H. Nolas, Chief, Capital Habeas Unit, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida,

for Petitioner

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Charmaine M. Millsaps, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida,

for Respondent

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