THOMAS v. STATE (2025)

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.

Randy THOMAS, Petitioner, v. STATE of Florida, Respondent.

No. 3D25-0968

Decided: September 10, 2025

Before FERNANDEZ, MILLER and GOODEN, JJ.

Randy Thomas, in proper person. James Uthmeier, Attorney General, and Magaly Rodriguez, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.

Petitioner Randy Thomas filed a petition for habeas corpus asserting ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. Finding none of his claims meet the standard set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), we deny the petition. See Rutherford v. Moore, 774 So. 2d 637, 644 (Fla. 2000) (“The failure to raise meritless claims does not render appellate counsel's performance ineffective.”); Kokal v. Dugger, 718 So. 2d 138, 142 (Fla. 1998) (“Appellate counsel cannot be faulted for failing to raise a nonmeritorious claim.”).

PER CURIAM.

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